Franco Colapinto has been eagerly anticipating the United States Grand Prix as four consecutive races begin near his native Argentina.
Williams promoted the rookie over Logan Sargent at Monza last month, and he duly impressed with three top-12 finishes and four points in his first three races. Colapinto becomes the first Argentine driver in nearly a quarter of a century, and he brings with him tremendous support from South America, which is expected to be felt most strongly in the United States, Mexico and Brazil.
“I was really waiting for this weekend,” Colapinto said. “It’s very special of course. I’ve raced all my life in Europe, and I’ve probably spent a weekend in Australia, in a place like this, but I’ve never raced in America, and this is the closest to my home. So I’ve been really waiting for these three rounds.
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“It’s very special, of course. My dream is to race in Argentina and in Buenos Aires, but that’s not happening, and this is our closest three races. I know that many fans will be here, I know that many fans will be in Mexico and even more in Brazil, So I think it’s going to be a home race, at least Brazil, and I’m very excited about that.
“I have great support from the Argentine fans, and racing near my home, is something I’ve been waiting for and something I’ve been dreaming about, and it’s happening now. So, yeah, very exciting times. I’m very happy to be here, of course, as a Formula 1 driver, and to have the opportunity “Racing near Argentina, which is very special.”
Colapinto believes he has a level of support beyond what most drivers receive in their home country, and said he is proud to inspire fans in Argentina.
He said: “I haven’t been to Argentina yet, so I don’t know how things are going there, but from what I’ve heard things are going a bit crazy.” “I love the support I get from the fans, it’s very special, I don’t see any Formula 1 driver getting the same amount of support I get from the fans.
“It shows that it’s very important as well, and pushing you forward a little bit, and having all these messages of support, and having all the fans coming to the races to support you, it’s very nice. It makes you push a little harder to achieve what you want, and see what you’re doing, and the challenges you’re putting in your racing And when you do a good job, they are very happy.
“They enjoy being here in Formula 1, it’s very special, and I’m very happy to be the next Argentine in Formula 1, and to have all these kids who are exhausted. And [they are] Very happy to see a Formula 1 driver for the first time from his country, and for all these kids who are getting into motorsport because they say: “Wow, I love Formula 1”, and they are getting into the sport, and motorsport in Argentina is growing a lot thanks to this.
“So what’s happening over there in the country is really good. Argentines really rely on sports, and finally, with… [soccer] The World Cup, and now with Formula 1 and a lot of other things, it’s very important for us to have a Formula 1 driver, I think, as a country, and that’s a really good thing.
While he enjoys the huge support he receives, Colapinto admitted that he is taking time to adjust to the way it affects how he goes about his daily life.
“The thing is, I don’t feel like a champion, I feel… like I was two years ago, no one knew me, and now everyone is stopping me, and I’m like, why are you stopping me?” Why do you want a picture?” he says. “And then I realize it, or I go to say hello to someone, and I say, ‘I’m Franco.’ [and they say] “Well, we know you.”
“Look, everything I think comes with time, and it will when I start to get used to it a little bit, but it’s a bit difficult – it has a lot of good things, and it has a lot of bad things too. I’d like to have a burger at McDonald’s with a lot of cheese, and maybe I can’t do that because they make me take pictures now so you have to be more careful, I’m working on that.
