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Argentina has been absent from the Formula 1 calendar for nearly three decades, yet the passion for the sport remains undiminished. On Sunday, the streets of Buenos Aires played host to a spectacle that drew a crowd larger than many modern-day Grands Prix, all gathered to witness national hero Franco Colapinto in action.
The 22-year-old, who made his F1 debut with Williams in 2024 before transitioning to Alpine for the 2025 season, has become a true national sensation. For this special exhibition, Colapinto took to a custom-built street circuit in the picturesque Palermo district, piloting the iconic 2012 Lotus E20. Powered by a roaring Renault V8 engine—the very same specification that carried Kimi Raikkonen to victory in Abu Dhabi that year—the car provided a visceral reminder of Formula 1’s golden era of sound and fury.
Colapinto treated the hundreds of thousands in attendance to two 15-minute runs, pushing the Lotus to its limits. He delighted the crowd by unleashing the V8’s roar along the Avenida Libertador and performing donuts in every sector of the circuit. True to his word, the demonstration concluded in dramatic fashion, with the car literally on fire after a sustained period of high-revving spins.
The event served as a poignant bridge between Argentina’s storied motorsport history and its modern aspirations. In a nod to the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio, Colapinto also drove a replica of the Mercedes W196, the machine that secured back-to-back world championships for the Argentine icon in 1954 and 1955. Throughout the day, Colapinto frequently stepped out of the cockpit to engage directly with his supporters, demonstrating a clear commitment to the fans who have backed his rise to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Colapinto’s exhibition was more than just a celebration; it was a calculated message to the sport’s hierarchy. “I love Argentinians. We are the best fans in the world and it is great to show that, because we are showing Formula 1 that we deserve to return to the calendar and that we deserve to have a race again,” he stated.
The timing of the event is significant. Earlier in the week, Colapinto visited the Oscar y Juan Galvez Autodrome, which is currently undergoing redevelopment to host MotoGP from 2027. While discussions regarding a return of Formula 1 to the country—which has not hosted a Grand Prix since 1998—remain in the early stages, the sheer scale of Sunday’s turnout will undoubtedly capture the attention of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
As fans look toward the future, the hope is that the next time Colapinto takes to the track in his home country, it will be as part of an official Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. For those interested in the logistics behind such events, you can read more about the recent Franco Colapinto exhibition in Buenos Aires: what, when and where.
Il est ingénieur logiciel et passionné de Formule 1 et de sport automobile. Il a cofondé Formula Live Pulse afin de rendre les données télémétriques en direct et les informations sur les courses accessibles, visuelles et faciles à suivre.
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