Argentine racing driver Franco Colapinto will run with a Formula 1 car in Buenos Aires for the very first time.

Sources in the Buenos Aires City government confirmed to the Herald that the 22-year-old, who in 2024 became Argentina’s first representative in motorsport’s biggest series since the turn of the century, will be part of an exhibition with an Alpine F1 car, the team Colapinto joined in 2025.

With details still to be sorted out, the exhibition is expected to take place on a temporary street circuit around the Bosques de Palermo (Palermo Woods park) in northern Buenos Aires City. 

The exhibition is tentatively scheduled for April 26, when the F1 will be on an unexpected hiatus following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix — originally scheduled for April 12 and 19 — due to the escalating conflict in the region.

It’ll be Colapinto’s first public visit since becoming an F1 driver, and only the second since he entered the spotlight in 2024. 

In August of that year, he drove around Buenos Aires in a Shelby Cobra during an event organized by his sponsors, while he was still driving for MP Motorsport in F2. 

At the time, he had only tested for Williams Racing with an F1 car, first in November 2023 in the post-season rookie tests at Yas Marina, and then during the 2024 British GP practice sessions in July. In September, he was announced as a full-time driver for the British outfit.

Looking to build on first-ever points

Colapinto is enjoying his best moments as an Alpine F1 driver after securing his first-ever points finish with the French team at the Chinese GP. 

He’s now heading to Suzuka International Racing Course, another track where he’s never raced, for the Japanese GP on March 29. It’ll be the last race in the series before it’s halted due to the two canceled events.

“We have shown what we can do now and are aiming to build on this as we head to Suzuka this weekend, which will be another new challenge,” he told the Alpine F1 media team ahead of the next race. “I’m really excited to race in Japan for the first time in my career. It’s such an amazing country, and I can’t wait to experience the weekend at this famous track.”

Action in Japan will start on Thursday in Argentina, due to the time difference, with two free practice sessions scheduled for 11:30 p.m. and then on Friday at 3 a.m. The third practice run will greenlight at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, with qualifying on Saturday at 3 a.m.

The race will launch on Sunday at 2 a.m.

© Buenos Aires Herald