MIAMI.- There are races that have a special meaning for drivers, just as there are soccer games that usually mark a “before and after” for soccer stars. And these are from this weekend in Miami, with a tenth and a seventh placein a very short time they may mean more to Franco Colapinto a long-awaited change in trend, if it is confirmed with similar results in the next Canadian Grand Prix event, in three weeks.
In Miami, the Argentine won the “head-to-head” qualifiers twice against his teammate Pierre Gaslyentered the top 10 in both races, the sprint and the Grand Prix, and added 6 valuable points for the team. His result on Sunday (7th) improves the one achieved on his own for Williams in 2024 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, in Baku.
Franco finished 61 seconds behind the winner, “Kimi” Antonelli (Mercedes). The Italian achieved his third consecutive victory and beat the McLaren of Lando Norris, the current champion, and Oscar Piastri in a direct duel.
Hours before all this, it was difficult to make plans due to the worrying weather forecast that was taking shape at the time of opening the circuit. Water, water everywhere, from above as if trying to anticipate a hurricane, and from below, on an almost flooded circuit, which apparently had no intention of drying out.
The FIA had announced late on Saturday afternoon in Florida that the start of the F1 race was anticipated at 1:00 p.m. local time, one hour later in Argentina. Starting at 9:25, Formula 2, with Nico Varrone starting from fifth position, was going to serve as a guinea pig to explore the grip and extreme conditions for the Grand Prix.
Due to the possibility of rain, some regulatory issues were adapted. The conditions for the deployment of electrical power became those approved the previous week for rainy conditions: maximum power delivery limited to 250 kW in attack mode (not the 350 kW admitted in dry weather), the mobile aerodynamics could only reduce its drag by half of what is usual, to also maintain grip on a straight line. Another exceptional condition: the ground clearance could be increased and the adjustment of the shock absorbers changed (generally softer in the expansion stroke). Safety is not something to be played with: the enormous instantaneous power of electric motors makes the tires skid in the dry and, if not moderated, are a sure recipe for accidents in the wet.
Frank, work and family
Around 10:30, in the bowels of the Alpine hospitality, Colapinto reviewed his race plans knowing that Isack Hadjar’s annoying Red Bull would most likely not rush him in the race as it had done the day before. The Frenchman had been disqualified for a transgression in the dimensions of the side of his flat floor.
Both Alpines would have the opportunity to have a points-scoring race. The rivals that had worried them in the first three rounds, Australia, China and Japan, should not have been in a position to hinder them. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) started from tenth place, but he had been almost 7/10 slower than Franco, and even further back were the Haas, the Racing Bulls and the Williams.
While the man from Pilar was analyzing these circumstances, on the long terrace in front of the entrance to the hospitality, family life was taking place: “Aunt” María (Catarineu), his manager, was drinking yogurt and chatting with his new “niece-in-law” Maia Reffico, who was savoring mate after mate. The young American-Argentine actress and singer has recently been singing in Franco’s ear. She seemed like one more in the family.
Colapinto’s career
The circuit had dried out, although the clouds continued to threaten, when Franco, at the head of a mysterious procession, left for the garages with an hour and a little more left before the start. When he arrived at the Mercedes box, the reason for the excursion was there: Lionel Messi. Franco enjoyed like a child with a new toy with the soccer player. He was just another fan who asked Messi for autographs. They both talked for a few moments. Messi, his three children and his wife, Antonella, happily posed with Franco and Maia.
Another dream come true for Pilar’s child. Now all that was left was to work and enjoy if you could (which you could).
Time to play hard
Franco made a bad start, he was saved from “scrum” that Max Verstappen created with his spin that harmed Gasly, and he faced an aggressive Lewis Hamilton on equal terms, whom he rightfully swept off the track, when he thought he could intimidate him. All in a first round to remember. There was one box left in the workbook to check: get to the end, perform at your best and listen to the team. Pace, proper tire changing strategy and avoiding crazy temptations that the available material could not withstand; directly confront, for now, the four best cars in the peloton: Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.
Alpine began to depend on him because Liam Lawson threw Gasly’s car into a spectacular roll when he had already overtaken him, after losing several positions when he had to brake due to Verstappen’s spin. AND Franco complied, in style. He had already hinted on Friday by qualifying eighth for the short “sprint” race that now Alpine already has a car and two drivers capable of scoring points.
On Sunday, Franco started without sufficient electrical power and that lack perhaps saved him from further damage. Pierre Gasly, who passed him in acceleration, had to brake suddenly when Max Verstappen, who had started second, spun. Both lost many positions and Franco, recovering, passed the stragglers around the outside and went straight to his season ticket holder’s place, the eighth.
Moving forward again, Pierre overtook Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), but he collided with him from behind, throwing him into a spectacular roll that ended up against the guardrail. The French pilot was not injured, although he stated that it had been the biggest scare of his life.
As the race progressed, rain was predicted but did not come. Colapinto had been overtaken by Lewis Hamilton and could not keep up with the Ferrari. Nor, from behind, could Williams, Carlos Sainz or Alex Albon bother him.
On the track Franco was going to finish in eighth position. However, when the FIA sanctioned the Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc with a 20 second extra time on his race time, Franco moved to seventh place in the final place, adding 6 units in his favor. According to the FIA, Leclerc had driven dangerously with his car damaged on the final lap, gained time illegally and collided with George Russell’s Mercedes in the track’s final chicane.
Colapinto was happy when he spoke with LA NACION after a positive weekend for him: “I want to thank the entire team for all the effort made.”
— Was the start complicated?
— Yes, I started without energy. Afterwards I was able to make the right decisions (when Verstappen’s spin happened) and I advanced some positions, and I was able to continue in the race.
—You squeezed Hamilton well, huh!
— Ah, I didn’t see the “on board” yet (smiling).
Hamilton, who was behind on that first lap and whom Franco had overtaken, did see him and had to jump into the escape zone. The Argentine can play hard.
And it must continue to do so. Your boss Flavio Briatore He congratulated the entire team and of Franco he said: “It was a great weekend for Franco and he is competitive, and that is the level we need in every race to score points and meet our goal.”
It is now Franco who has to give his answers. Starting from Canada.
