Italian fans are furious about Franco Colapinto at Imola: "His Italianness is extraordinary."

Franco Colapinto will not be short of Argentine fans at Imola for his Formula 1 comeback, having risen from reserve to regular at Alpine . But among the crowds at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari there are also Italians cheering on the 21-year-old driver who surprised the paddock last year when, with just 300 kilometres under his belt in an F1 car, he stepped into the Williams to replace Logan Sargeant for the final nine races of the season, a performance which caught the attention of another Italian, Flavio Briatore, who put up the millions of dollars - rumoured to be 20 - for a five-year loan with the English team.

“Colapinto,” Alice and Kini shout when they recognize the Buenos Aires native passing through Tamburello on his bicycle during Thursday’s track walk, but a double fence separates them, and the rider can’t hear them, much less stop to greet them. They are a few meters from the Ayrton Senna monument located inside Parco Acque Minerali. A teenager, she is wearing a Ferrari shirt with Charles Leclerc’s number 16 on it and dares to speak to this reporter while her father looks at her with the pride one would expect from a daughter who follows the same passion.

“He's very nice, very nice. Very good, young, and nice, ” he begins. She quickly clarifies, though: “ Many might think it's because he's handsome, but also because of his passion, first and foremost .” “Last year, from one of the balconies at Rivazza, we were able to see him win in Formula 2. We were very happy for him,” she recalls, while her father takes out his cell phone to show the video of the official broadcast that captured them at that Grand Prix. “ Then there's also that Italian quality he has, which is extraordinary ,” Kini adds.

The memories of the Italian father and daughter revive what happened on May 18, 2024, when Colapinto won after a spectacular maneuver on the last lap to overtake Paul Aron, who until a week ago shared the role of Alpine reserve with the Argentine and who a few days ago in the TPC tests at Monza led by half a second in the race simulation.

"I'm very happy that everyone is happy to see me back and that they're enjoying being back as much as I am," the Pilar native acknowledged in a conversation with Clarín and two other Argentine media outlets at the Alpine hospital at the racetrack.

Italy is a special place for the Buenos Aires native. In addition to granting him the citizenship that allowed him to settle in Europe at the age of 14, it's where he made his "first" F1 debut. In Monza, on September 1, 2024, Franco crossed the finish line in 12th place at the Italian Grand Prix with the Williams. In 48 hours, we'll know how he fared at the Emilia Romagna GP.