By David Tremayne
May 9, 2026
After a lean spell in 2025, Franco Colapinto looks like the driver everyone expected when Alpine gave the 22-year-old his break in Formula 1. Miami provided the most vivid evidence yet that Colapinto has rediscovered his confidence and rhythm — and that Argentina’s long-dormant passion for Grand Prix racing has been reignited.
There is something electric about seeing an Argentine driver perform on the big stage. An estimated 600,000 people in his homeland turned out to cheer as Alpine staged a national demonstration, a reminder of the country’s glorious past when Juan Manuel Fangio’s success made Grand Prix wins seem commonplace. That history hangs heavy in the air, and Colapinto’s recent form has given fans fresh reasons to believe.
In Miami he arrived buzzing and delivered. He out-qualified his team mate Pierre Gasly, then produced an excellent race to finish seventh. There was a moment on the opening lap — a minor rub with Lewis Hamilton — but that aside his drive was composed, aggressive when it needed to be, and very nearly flawless. For me, it merited top marks.
What’s most important is the bigger picture. A return to form like this does more than add points to the board: it rebuilds momentum, restores self-belief and sends a clear signal to rivals and team engineers alike that Colapinto can be trusted to extract performance from the Alpine package under pressure.
There are many races to come, and consistency will be the true test. But Miami felt like a turning point: a young driver reconnected with his best self, a nation reminded of its motorsport pedigree, and an F1 paddock taking note. If Colapinto keeps this up, the buzz around Argentina won’t fade any time soon.