Franco Colapinto openly dreams of a return of the Argentine Grand Prix. Between 1953 and 1998, his home country was on the F1 calendar no less than 21 times, but since then a comeback has not happened. However, the arrival of Colapinto – the first Argentine in the top class since 2001 – has reignited the call for a new GP; reportedly, a recent demonstration run in Buenos Aires already attracted 600,000 spectators.
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During the spring break, Colapinto raced old Alpine cars through the streets of the Argentine capital. This once again emphasized how strongly Formula 1 lives among the local population. “You can explain all this, but it is much easier to show with videos or photos what can actually happen during a race in Argentina,” Colapinto told the press in Miami. “I think this is a fantastic way to show what they can do and how much Argentina can mean for Formula 1. It would be huge.”
Passion
“Motorsport is the second most popular sport in Argentina after football, and it has been so long since there has been an F1 race,” the young driver continued. “Moreover, it has also been a long time since there was an Argentine active in the sport. But now there is more and more room for new races and more and more Argentine drivers are coming. I think it would be a very special moment if a race actually takes place again. Many people would be amazed by the passion of the fans and what a Grand Prix can bring about.”
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According to Colapinto, the basis for a return is certainly present, although it remains unclear how far the talks have progressed. “I don’t know what is missing, because I have no idea at what stage the current talks are.” The enthusiasm around the recent demonstration is in any case a clear signal towards the Formula 1 top, he emphasized. “This was a fantastic way to show what an Argentine GP could look like. With good organization, it should be possible. A second race in South America would be very positive and of course it would be a dream come true for me. Racing in my home country would be very special.” For now, however, a quick return is by no means certain. The F1 calendar is largely full until 2029, partly due to new and returning races in Turkey and Portugal. In addition, other countries are also vying for a spot.
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