Is Colapinto the new Messi? 'Then I'm like, 'You guys are crazy'!
F1 News
- Jeroen Immink
Franco Colapinto made his debut at Williams in Formula 1 last weekend as a replacement for Logan Sargeant. This made Colapinto the first Argentine in Formula 1 in decades, which has earned him star status in Argentina. But he doesn't want to compare himself to another Argentine sport star Lionel Messi
Colapinto gets uncomfortable with comparisons to Messi
Colapinto was asked if he feels a bit like Messi. "It's very difficult to feel like Messi. I don't know how it is to feel that. Sometimes I see that they compare me, and I'm like, ‘You guys are crazy! Messi is gold. How are you comparing me?" the Argentine responded in amazement.
"As we said before, it's been 23 years since having a driver from Argentina. So it's making Argentinians very happy because it's a very special moment for all of them, as it's a very special moment for me. I think all the happiness that I have, many people have it as well," Colapinto added. Colapinto is the first Argentine since Gastón Mazzacane in Formula 1.
Are there similarities between Colapinto and Messi?
Just as Messi moved to Barcelona at 12 to play football, Colapinto has followed a similar path. "That's why I started to learn Italian when I was a little kid. Of course, without my family, it was a big sacrifice. But at the end, it was something that I wanted to do and I chose to do. Argentina is very far, but you have to be in Europe if you want to go to Formula 1. I had that very clear in my mind since I was a little kid. And I understood that the way to do it was coming to Europe," Colapinto said.
"I didn't know how to cook. I didn't know how to wash my clothes. I knew no Italian. It was a complete disaster. And I was completely alone. So it was tough. I think I grew up very quickly there in a very short period of time because I suddenly had to do things that I never did in my life," Colapinto concluded.
Colapinto made his debut in the Italian Grand Prix at the Monza circuit. He finished 12th. He will not drive for Williams after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon will be the drivers at Williams for 2025.
This article has been created in collaboration with Matt Gretton
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