Franco_Colapinto
Franco Colapinto
Argentine racing driver
Franco Alejandro Colapinto (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈfɾan.ko aleˈxandɾo ko.laˈpin.to]; born 27 May 2003) is an Argentine-Italian[1] racing driver who is currently compteing in the 2024 Formula 2 Championship with MP Motorsport. He previously competed in the FIA Formula 3 for the same team, finishing fourth in that year. He is the 2019 F4 Spanish champion and a race winner in the European Le Mans Series.[2] He is a member of the Williams Driver Academy.
| Franco Colapinto | |
|---|---|
Colapinto in 2023. | |
| Nationality |  Argentine |
| Born | (2003-05-27) 27 May 2003 (age 20) Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| FIA Formula 2 Championship career | |
| Debut season | 2023 |
| Current team | MP Motorsport |
| Racing licence |  FIA Gold |
| Car number | 12 |
| Starts | 8 (8 entries) |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| Best finish | 25th in 2023 |
| Previous series | |
| 2022–23 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2020 2019–2020 2019 2018–2019 | FIA Formula 3 Championship Intercontinental GT Challenge GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup FIA World Endurance Championship European Le Mans Series FR European Championship Asian Le Mans Series Toyota Racing Series Formula Renault Eurocup Euroformula Open Championship F4 Spanish Championship |
| Championship titles | |
| 2019 | F4 Spanish Championship |
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Karting
Colapinto started karting at the age of nine.[3] He won the Argentine Championship in 2016 and again in 2018, alongside a victory in the 2018 Youth Summer Olympics.[4]
Lower formulas
Colapinto made his car racing debut in 2018, participating in the final round of the F4 Spanish Championship, driving for Drivex School. In 2019 Colapinto signed with FARacing by Drivex for a full campaign in the F4 Spanish Championship. He took the title by winning all three races in the season finale[5] bringing his debut car racing season tally to eleven victories, 13 podiums and 14 pole positions.[6][7]
Euroformula Open
During the 2019 season, Colapinto drove for Drivex as a guest driver in the 2019 round at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.[8]
Formula Renault Eurocup
Drivex also ran Colapinto during the 2019 season at Spa and Catalunya.[9][10] In July 2020, Colapinto joined the championship[11] full-time with Dutch outfit MP Motorsport.[12]
Toyota Racing Series
In January 2020, Colapinto joined Kiwi Motorsport for the 2020 championship.[13] The season saw him claim a race win in Hampton Downs and further 7 podiums and end the championship third overall, clinching the rookie championship win.[14][15]
FIA Formula 3
2022
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In October 2020, Colapinto joined MP Motorsport for the first day of post-season testing at Catalunya.[16][17] He did likewise the following year at Valencia, but ended up signing for Van Amersfoort Racing instead for the 2022 season, partnering Rafael Villagómez and Reece Ushijima.[18] The Argentinian started his F3 career with a pole position on his and his team's debut in the series at Sakhir.[19] He went on to win the Sprint Race at the following round in Imola, scoring his and VAR's maiden victory in the series.[20] Throughout the season Colapinto took three more podium finishes at the Spielberg, Budapest and Zandvoort rounds and a second Sprint Race win at the final round in Monza to finish ninth in the drivers' standings.[21][22]
2023
In September, Colapinto partook in the 2022 post-season test, again with MP Motorsport.[23] On January 9, 2023, he was announced as MP Motorsport's driver for the 2023 season.[24]
At the season-opening Sakhir round, Colapinto qualified 12th and consequently claimed pole position for the Sprint Race, where he crossed the line in second place behind Pepe Martí. He finished 10th in the Feature Race on Sunday, scoring one more point.
Colapinto went on to qualify 7th in Melbourne. He started the Sprint Race in sixth place and climbed up the order to claim his first victory of the season.[25] However, after post-race inspections found all three MP Motorsport cars to have infringed technical regulations, he was disqualified from the Sprint Race along with his teammates Jonny Edgar and Mari Boya.[26] He then crashed out of the Feature Race, departing Australia without points.
Since then, Colapinto went on to consistently score points on every round of the calendar, aside from the Spielberg Sprint Race where he finished 13th and the Monza Feature Race in which he retired with a suspension failure after contact in the first lap. He ended the season fourth in the Drivers' Championship, with two wins at the Silverstone and Monza Sprint Races and three podium finishes at Sakhir, Catalunya and Budapest.
Macau Grand Prix
Colapinto was set to part in the 2023 Macau Grand Prix with MP Motorsport.[27] However, he withdrew from the event last-minute due to a broken collarbone he sustained prior to the final F3 round, and was replaced by Dennis Hauger.[28]
FIA Formula 2
2023
In October 2023, Colapinto was announced to be replacing Jehan Daruvala, moving up to Formula 2 for the final race in Yas Marina and the full 2024 season with MP Motorsport.[29] Ahead of his F2 debut, Colapinto expressed that "it's going to be tough" yet he was "super excited".[30] He finished 19th in the sprint race, but retired from the feature race due to a sensor issue.[31]
2024
Colapinto partners 2021 FIA Formula 3 champion Dennis Hauger for the 2024 season.
Asian Le Mans Series
In February 2021, Colapinto joined G-Drive Racing #25 for the 2021 season.[32] The season saw him claim 3 podiums in 4 races, and end the championship third overall, with his co-drivers Rui Andrade and John Falb.[33]
Formula One
In January 2023, Colapinto was announced to be joining the Williams Driver Academy.[34] Colapinto made his debut in a Formula One car with the Williams FW45, during the 2023 F1 post-season test at Yas Marina.[35] Colapinto set the 22nd fastest time overall, completing 65 laps, to be the first Argentine to drive an F1 car in over 20 years.[36]
Karting career summary
| Season | Series | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Rotax Max Buenos Aires — Micro Max | NC | |
| 2014 | Argentine Championship — Promocional | 6th | |
| 2015 | Argentine Championship — Pre-Junior | Acosta Kart Division | NC |
| 2016 | Argentine Championship — Sudam Junior | 10th | |
| SKUSA SuperNationals — X30 Junior | 12th | ||
| ROK Cup International Final — Junior ROK | Baby Race Srl | 9th | |
| Argentine Championship — Pre-Junior | 1st | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OKJ | Baby Race Srl | NC† | |
| 2017 | South Garda Winter Cup — OKJ | 2nd | |
| SKUSA SuperNationals — X30 Junior | CRG Nordam | 23rd | |
| CIK-FIA World Championship — OKJ | Baby Race Srl | 35th | |
| 2018 | WSK Champions Cup — OK | CRG Spa | 22nd |
| South Garda Winter Cup — OK | 17th | ||
| Trofeo Andrea Margutti — OK | 24th | ||
| WSK Super Master Series — OK | 46th | ||
| CIK-FIA European Championship — OK | 69th | ||
| WSK Open Cup — OK | 32nd | ||
| CIK-FIA World Championship — OK | 45th | ||
| Karting at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics | 1st |
Complete CIK-FIA Karting European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Racing career summary
† As Colapinto was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
* Season still in progress.
Complete F4 Spanish Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Drivex School | ARA 1 |
ARA 2 |
ARA 3 |
CRT 1 |
CRT 2 |
CRT 3 |
ALG 1 |
ALG 2 |
ALG 3 |
CAT 1 |
CAT 2 |
JER 1 |
JER 2 |
JER 3 |
NAV 1 5 |
NAV 2 5 |
NAV 3 2 |
NAV 4 1 |
9th | 49 | |||
| 2019 | Drivex School | NAV 1 1 |
NAV 2 3 |
NAV 3 6 |
LEC 1 4 |
LEC 2 7 |
LEC 3 4 |
ARA 1 1 |
ARA 2 14 |
ARA 3 11 |
CRT 1 1 |
CRT 2 1 |
CRT 3 1 |
JER 1 4 |
JER 2 3 |
JER 3 1 |
ALG 1 1 |
ALG 2 1 |
ALG 3 4 |
CAT 1 1 |
CAT 2 1 |
CAT 3 1 |
1st | 325 |
Complete Formula Renault Eurocup results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FA Racing by Drivex | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
MON 1 |
MON 2 |
LEC 1 |
LEC 2 |
SPA 1 12 |
SPA 2 20 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
CAT 1 11 |
CAT 2 10 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
YMC 1 |
YMC 2 |
NC† | 0 |
| 2020 | MP Motorsport | MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 3 |
IMO 1 6 |
IMO 2 7 |
NÜR 1 7 |
NÜR 2 6 |
MAG 1 13 |
MAG 2 Ret |
ZAN 1 6 |
ZAN 2 3 |
CAT 1 6 |
CAT 2 3 |
SPA 1 1‡ |
SPA 2 12 |
IMO 1 4 |
IMO 2 2 |
HOC 1 4 |
HOC 2 3 |
LEC 1 3 |
LEC 2 3 |
3rd | 213.5 |
† As Colapinto was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.
‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.
Complete Toyota Racing Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Asian Le Mans Series results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Complete Formula Regional European Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | MP Motorsport | IMO 1 WD |
IMO 2 WD |
CAT 1 28† |
CAT 2 Ret |
MCO 1 WD |
MCO 2 WD |
LEC 1 12 |
LEC 2 12 |
ZAN 1 5 |
ZAN 2 2 |
SPA 1 Ret |
SPA 2 6 |
RBR 1 1 |
RBR 2 4 |
VAL 1 1 |
VAL 2 2 |
MUG 1 Ret |
MUG 2 5 |
MNZ 1 7 |
MNZ 2 6 |
6th | 140 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance.
Complete European Le Mans Series results
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 |  G-Drive Racing |
Roman Rusinov Nyck de Vries |
Aurus 01-Gibson | LMP2 | 358 | 12th | 7th |
Complete FIA Formula 3 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Van Amersfoort Racing | BHR SPR 25 |
BHR FEA 5 |
IMO SPR 1 |
IMO FEA 22 |
CAT SPR Ret |
CAT FEA 8 |
SIL SPR 13 |
SIL FEA Ret |
RBR SPR 3 |
RBR FEA 6 |
HUN SPR 2 |
HUN FEA 15 |
SPA SPR 15 |
SPA FEA 12 |
ZAN SPR 13 |
ZAN FEA 3 |
MNZ SPR 1 |
MNZ FEA 15 |
9th | 76 |
| 2023 | MP Motorsport | BHR SPR 2 |
BHR FEA 10 |
MEL SPR DSQ |
MEL FEA Ret |
MON SPR 4 |
MON FEA 6 |
CAT SPR 6 |
CAT FEA 2 |
RBR SPR 13 |
RBR FEA 4 |
SIL SPR 1 |
SIL FEA 8 |
HUN SPR 7 |
HUN FEA 3 |
SPA SPR 5 |
SPA FEA 10 |
MNZ SPR 1 |
MNZ FEA Ret |
4th | 110 |
Complete FIA Formula 2 Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate points for the fastest lap of top ten finishers)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | MP Motorsport | BHR SPR |
BHR FEA |
JED SPR |
JED FEA |
MEL SPR |
MEL FEA |
BAK SPR |
BAK FEA |
MCO SPR |
MCO FEA |
CAT SPR |
CAT FEA |
RBR SPR |
RBR FEA |
SIL SPR |
SIL FEA |
HUN SPR |
HUN FEA |
SPA SPR |
SPA FEA |
ZAN SPR |
ZAN FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MNZ FEA |
YMC SPR 19 |
YMC FEA Ret |
25th | 0 | ||
| 2024 | MP Motorsport | BHR SPR 18 |
BHR FEA 6 |
JED SPR 11 |
JED FEA Ret |
MEL SPR 4 |
MEL FEA DSQ |
IMO SPR |
IMO FEA |
MON SPR |
MON FEA |
CAT SPR |
CAT FEA |
RBR SPR |
RBR FEA |
SIL SPR |
SIL FEA |
HUN SPR |
HUN FEA |
SPA SPR |
SPA FEA |
MNZ SPR |
MNZ FEA |
BAK SPR |
BAK FEA |
LSL SPR |
LSL FEA |
YMC SPR |
YMC FEA |
13th* | 13* |
* Season still in progress.
- "El nuevo sueño argentino para la Fórmula 1: quién es Franco Colapinto, la joven promesa a la que todos apuntan para dar el salto". Infobae (in Spanish). 2 October 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- "Franco Colapinto - Racing driver - Official Website - HOME". Franco Colapinto. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- "FIA Supports E-Kart race in Buenos Aires". Federation Internationale de l'Automobile. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- Moreno, Guillermo (9 November 2019). "Colapinto gana en Montmeló y se proclama campeón de la F4 Española". Formula Rápida. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "BULLET ATHLETE FRANCO COLAPINTO WINS FIA SPANISH F4". Franco Colapinto. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- "BULLET ATHLETE FRANCO COLAPINTO WINS FIA SPANISH F4". Bullet Sports Management Ltd. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- Wood, Elliot (4 June 2019). "Fernando Alonso protege Franco Colapinto joins Euroformula Open, RP Motorsport returns". FormulaScout. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- "The mid-way point of the season at Spa". 24 July 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- "Victor Martins sweeps Barcelona weekend". 29 September 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- "BULLET ATHLETE FRANCO COLAPINTO SIGNS WITH MP MOTORSPORT FOR FORMULA RENAULT EUROCUP". Franco Colapinto. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- Wood, Elliot (6 July 2020). "Franco Colapinto to Formula Renault Eurocup with MP Motorsport". FormulaScout. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- "FRANCO COLAPINTO ENTERS TOYOTA RACING SERIES". Bullet Sports Management Ltd. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "FRANCO COLAPINTO WINS 'ROOKIE' TITLE AND TAKES THIRD OVERALL IN TRS". Franco Colapinto. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- "FRANCO COLAPINTO WINS 'ROOKIE' TITLE AND TAKES THIRD OVERALL IN TRS". Bullet Sports Management Ltd. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- "FIA Formula 3 returns to action for Barcelona post-season test". 4 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- "Nannini tops Day 1 of post-season testing in Barcelona, ahead of Hughes". 5 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- Allen, Peter (3 February 2022). "Franco Colapinto gets FIA F3 drive with Van Amersfoort Racing". Formula Scout. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- "QUALIFYING: Colapinto takes Sakhir pole for Van Amersfoort Racing on debut". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- "F3 Imola: Colapinto wins sprint as Collet, Hadjar collide". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- "Calendar & Results for the FIA Formula 3 2022 Championship: The Road to F1". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- "Driver Standings for the FIA Formula 3 2022 Championship". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- Wood, Ida (20 September 2022). "FIA F3 reveals full entry list for post-season Jerez test". Formula Scout. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- "Franco Colapinto joins Williams as F1 junior and moves to MP in F3". Formula Scout. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- "SPRINT RACE: Colapinto takes measured win amidst the drama in Melbourne". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- "Colapinto loses Sprint Race win after technical infringement". FIAFormula3® - The Official F3® Website. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- Wood, Ida (25 October 2023). "Two-time winner Ticktum headlines 2023 Macau GP entry list". Formula Scout. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- Wood, Ida (11 November 2023). "2021 FIA F3 champion Hauger replaces Colapinto in MP's Macau line-up". Formula Scout. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
- "Franco Colapinto graduates to F2 with MP Motorsport for Yas Marina finale and 2024 season". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- "Colapinto: 'Privilege' to make early F2 debut with progression not results the focus ahead of 2024". FIA_F2® - The Official F2® Website. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- "Academy Report: Trio try something new". Williams Racing. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- "2021 Asian Le Mans Series, 36 Car Entry Assembles". 3 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- "2JOTA Win Asian Le Mans Series Finale In A Thriller! #26 G-Drive Crew Take The Title". 20 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- "Franco Colapinto joins Williams Racing Driver Academy". Williams Racing. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- "Franco Colapinto to drive Williams Racing F1 car in Abu Dhabi". francolapinto.com. 1 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- "Franco and Zak reflect on the Post-Season Test". Williams Racing. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
- Official website
- Franco Colapinto career summary at DriverDB.com
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | F4 Spanish Championship Champion 2019 |
Succeeded by |