14/06/2026 12:08 - Deportes
Un monoplaza de Fórmula 1 de colores azul y rosa compitiendo a gran velocidad en el circuito de Barcelona, con las gradas repletas bajo un cielo soleado.
Franco Colapinto delivered an outstanding performance at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, crossing the finish line in eighth place and scoring 4 points for himself and the Alpine team. The 23-year-old Argentine driver from Pilar (a city in Buenos Aires Province known for producing racing talent) executed a flawless strategy while capitalizing on retirements from other competitors.
His teammate Pierre Gasly finished seventh, marking a double celebration for the French constructor, who gained valuable points in the Constructors' Championship. The race was won by Lewis Hamilton, achieving his first victory with Ferrari—a historic milestone in his legendary career following his high-profile switch from Mercedes.
The race featured several pivotal moments for the Argentine driver. Colapinto started from 13th position on the grid and executed an excellent launch, gaining two positions into the first corner. However, tire management proved critical at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, known for its high degradation demands on rubber.
On lap 20, Alpine instructed Franco to let Gasly through, as the Frenchman had superior race pace. Although Colapinto expressed frustration over team radio, he complied strategically. Shortly after, a flawless pit stop on lap 35 combined with the deployment of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC)—triggered by Fernando Alonso's retirement—allowed Colapinto to execute an undercut on Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls. (An undercut is when a driver pits earlier than their rival to gain track position on fresh tires.)
The Virtual Safety Car was instrumental in Hamilton's victory and enabled Alpine to place both cars in the points-paying positions.
The late-race retirements of Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) proved decisive. Their crashes allowed Gasly and Colapinto to climb two positions each, securing 7th and 8th place respectively.
The weekend wasn't without unusual moments. During Saturday's qualifying session, Colapinto experienced a bizarre incident in the pit lane. A mechanic accidentally sprayed dry ice—a compound used to cool the power unit—onto his helmet and visor while he sat in the cockpit. The driver reacted with visible surprise and irritation, but the incident didn't impact his qualifying performance ahead of Sunday's race.
Like Hamilton, Colapinto is under investigation by race stewards for a potential yellow flag infraction, though the final race results remain unchanged.
Franco Colapinto is an Argentine racing driver born in Pilar, Buenos Aires, in 2003. He rose through the motorsport ranks via Formula Renault and Formula 3, becoming one of Argentina's most promising motorsport talents. His points finish represents significant achievement for Argentine motorsport, which has a passionate racing culture—motor racing is among the most popular sports in the country, alongside football and basketball.
Formula 1 continues its European tour with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, scheduled for June 26-28. The race is set to begin at 10:00 Argentine time (14:00 UTC).
Alfredo S. Quiroga
