Name: One Day, Day One - Inside Franco Colapinto's first laps in a Formula 1 Car
Uploaded: 2023-12-06T18:32:35.001Z
Description: Go behind the scenes as Franco Colapinto gets his first taste of F1 machinery at the Abu Dhabi Post-Season Young Driver Test with Williams Racing

, Franco Colapinto of the Williams Driver Academy became the first Argentinian driver to get behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car in 22 years.

Go behind the scenes as Franco gets his maiden taste of F1 machinery at the Abu Dhabi Post-Season Young Driver Test.

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Follow Franco's journey

Williams

Franco Colapinto started karting at the age of nine. He won the Argentinian Championship in 2016 and again in 2018. In 2018 Franco begun his European single seat journey, entering the final round of the FIA Spanish F4 season, taking a win and a second place. Franco was scouted by Fernando Alonso's team FA Racing by Drivex, signing him up for the 2019 season.

In 2019, Franco achieved eleven victories, 13 podiums and 10 pole positions, being crowned the Spanish F4 champion. Following this, Franco started his 2020 season by securing his second single seater title after taking the rookie championship win in the 2020 Castrol Toyota Racing Series, adding another race win, a pole position and eight further podium finishes to his tally.

For the second leg of the 2020 season Franco Colapinto returned to Europe to compete in the Formula Renault Euro cup with MP Motorsport, taking two race wins and nine podiums to finish third in the championship as the highest ranked rookie

In 2021, Franco raced in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine with MP Motorsport where he achieved two Grand Slams and a further victory and podium finish.

For the 2022 season, Franco moved up to FIA F3 with Van Amersfoort Racing chasing his childhood dream to reach the pinnacle of motor racing, Formula 1. The Argentinian immediately made his mark by taking pole position in his first ever FIA F3 Qualifying and went on to win 2 races and 5 podiums in his rookie year.

In January 2023, Franco joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy Programme and went on to compete in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. He had a successful sophomore season, securing two sprint race wins at Silverstone and Monza, and finished the season taking fourth place in the standings.

In October 2023, it was announced that Franco would be graduating to FIA Formula 2 in 2024 with MP Motorsport. Franco made his F2 debut with the team at the final round of the 2023 season in Abu Dhabi, performing well in preparation for the next stage in his career as part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy.

From the 2024 Italian Grand Prix until the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, Franco will race with Williams. He becomes the 49th Grand Prix driver for Williams Racing*, is the first Argentine driver in F1 for 23 years and the second Argentine to drive for the British outfit, following his countryman Carlos Reutemann.

2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship, MP Motorsport

2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship, MP Motorsport, 4th overall: 2 wins, 5 podiums

2022 FIA Formula 3 Championship, Van Amersfoort Racing

More from Franco Colapinto

Franco Colapinto

 Go behind the scenes as Franco Colapinto gets his first taste of F1 machinery at the Abu Dhabi Post-Season Young Driver Test with Williams Racing

One Day, Day One - Inside Franco Colapinto's first laps in a Formula 1 Car

 Go behind the scenes as Franco gets his first taste of F1 machinery at the Abu Dhabi Post-Season Young Driver Test

One Day, Day One - Franco's first laps in an F1 Car

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One Day, Day One - Franco's first laps in an F1 Car