Argentina F1 Craze Rekindled: 22-Year-Old F1 Driver Returns for Exhibition, Over 600,000 Attend
The F1 craze has been rekindled in Argentina due to the outstanding performance of 22-year-old Argentinian F1 driver Franco Colapinto. Over 600,000 people attended an F1 street exhibition in Buenos Aires, the first in 14 years, indicating a surge in domestic interest in F1.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 15:56
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 16:01 (5 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 01:30 (9h 29m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Huang Yun-ru, Buenos Aires, April 27) - The Formula 1 racing craze has been rekindled in Argentina due to the outstanding performance of 22-year-old Argentinian F1 driver Franco Colapinto, attracting national attention. The capital, Buenos Aires, held an F1 street exhibition again on April 26, after a 14-year hiatus, drawing over 600,000 attendees; this sport, which had been dormant in Argentina for many years, is rapidly recovering.
The organizer, the Buenos Aires City Government, stated that this event has become one of the largest racing exhibitions in Argentina in recent years. In addition to driving a 2012 Lotus E20 F1 car along city roads, Franco Colapinto also operated a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 historical car, paying tribute to Argentina's racing tradition. The event location was near the old racetrack area where major events were held in the mid-20th century, carrying historical significance.
The F1 street exhibition in Argentina was made possible by a rare gap in the international racing calendar. Affected by the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, two F1 Grand Prix events in the Middle East in April 2026, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, were successively canceled, forcing a schedule adjustment, which indirectly created an opportunity for driver Colapinto to return to his home country and interact with fans.
Argentina once held a significant position in F1 in the 1950s, with legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio winning five world championships. However, F1 Grand Prix events have not been held in Argentina since 1998, and domestic interest subsequently declined.
In recent years, with Colapinto's ascent to the international racing system, the situation has changed. Colapinto, born in 2003, started with karting and moved to Europe in his teenage years to participate in various formula series. In 2024, he joined the Williams team and was promoted to Formula 1, becoming one of the few Argentinian drivers to reach the F1 stage in recent years, also driving a resurgence of interest in motorsport in Argentina.
The audience at the F1 street exhibition responded enthusiastically, with many fans traveling long distances from other provinces. Some brought their families and arrived hours in advance to secure a spot, just to watch the F1 cars race up close. Long-time international racing fans also commented that with a local driver reaching the top stage, more people are starting to pay attention to F1 again.
Colapinto told the media that displaying the F1 car in Argentina was an important moment in his career and one of his personal dreams, hoping to allow more Argentinians to experience motorsport up close.
The Argentinian government and sports sector have begun evaluating infrastructure improvement plans for motorsport, including renovating the Oscar y Juan Gálvez racetrack, to strive for the possibility of hosting F1 Grand Prix events again in the future. Former Argentinian F1 driver Norberto Fontana stated that Colapinto's emergence has a positive meaning for the development of motorsport in Argentina, and will inspire a new generation of drivers. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150427
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(Central News Agency reporter Huang Yun-ru, Buenos Aires, April 27) - The Formula 1 racing craze has been rekindled in Argentina due to the outstanding performance of 22-year-old Argentinian F1 driver Franco Colapinto, attracting national attention. The capital, Buenos Aires, held an F1 street exhibition again on April 26, after a 14-year hiatus, drawing over 600,000 attendees; this sport, which had been dormant in Argentina for many years, is rapidly recovering.
The organizer, the Buenos Aires City Government, stated that this event has become one of the largest racing exhibitions in Argentina in recent years. In addition to driving a 2012 Lotus E20 F1 car along city roads, Franco Colapinto also operated a 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 historical car, paying tribute to Argentina's racing tradition. The event location was near the old racetrack area where major events were held in the mid-20th century, carrying historical significance.
The F1 street exhibition in Argentina was made possible by a rare gap in the international racing calendar. Affected by the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, two F1 Grand Prix events in the Middle East in April 2026, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, were successively canceled, forcing a schedule adjustment, which indirectly created an opportunity for driver Colapinto to return to his home country and interact with fans.
Argentina once held a significant position in F1 in the 1950s, with legendary driver Juan Manuel Fangio winning five world championships. However, F1 Grand Prix events have not been held in Argentina since 1998, and domestic interest subsequently declined.
In recent years, with Colapinto's ascent to the international racing system, the situation has changed. Colapinto, born in 2003, started with karting and moved to Europe in his teenage years to participate in various formula series. In 2024, he joined the Williams team and was promoted to Formula 1, becoming one of the few Argentinian drivers to reach the F1 stage in recent years, also driving a resurgence of interest in motorsport in Argentina.
The audience at the F1 street exhibition responded enthusiastically, with many fans traveling long distances from other provinces. Some brought their families and arrived hours in advance to secure a spot, just to watch the F1 cars race up close. Long-time international racing fans also commented that with a local driver reaching the top stage, more people are starting to pay attention to F1 again.
Colapinto told the media that displaying the F1 car in Argentina was an important moment in his career and one of his personal dreams, hoping to allow more Argentinians to experience motorsport up close.
The Argentinian government and sports sector have begun evaluating infrastructure improvement plans for motorsport, including renovating the Oscar y Juan Gálvez racetrack, to strive for the possibility of hosting F1 Grand Prix events again in the future. Former Argentinian F1 driver Norberto Fontana stated that Colapinto's emergence has a positive meaning for the development of motorsport in Argentina, and will inspire a new generation of drivers. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is a force protecting press freedom.
Download Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.