Franco Colapinto turns 23: 23 curiosities about the Argentine driver
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Franco Colapinto, an Argentine driver, celebrated his 23rd birthday following a strong performance in the Canadian Grand Prix where he secured eighth place for Alpine.
- Both Alpine and his former team, Williams Racing, sent birthday wishes, with Formula 1 also acknowledging his achievements and milestone.
- Colapinto's career highlights include being the first Argentine in Formula 1 in 23 years and his connection to racing heritage, such as using the number 43 in honor of his father.
Argentine racing driver Franco Colapinto is celebrating his 23rd birthday, marking the occasion with well wishes from his current team, Alpine, and his former team, Williams Racing. This celebration follows a significant achievement at the Canadian Grand Prix, where Colapinto secured an eighth-place finish, earning eight points for Alpine in the constructors' championship.
Happy birthday, Franco Colapinto. Our 43 today turns 23.
Formula 1 itself acknowledged Colapinto's milestone, highlighting his progression in 2026 and noting that he is only 23. The organization shared an illustration celebrating his career milestones, including his exhibition in Buenos Aires with Juan Manuel Fangio's car and his meeting with Lionel Messi. Formula 1 also emphasized his significance as the "first Argentine in Formula 1 in 23 years."
Colapinto's girlfriend, Maia Reficco, also shared a romantic message on Instagram, posting photos from a trip to Paris. The driver has reportedly captivated fans not only with his charisma and spontaneity but also with his consistency, commitment, and performance on the track since his arrival in Formula 1.
Happy birthday, Franco!
Among the 23 facts shared about Colapinto, his racing number, 43, holds special significance. He adopted it to honor his father, who also used the number during his own racing career. Colapinto first used the number in karting and continued with it in various racing series, including Formula 4 Española, Toyota Racing Series, and Formula Regional European Championship. He proudly returned to the number 43 in 2024 when he joined Williams.
From strength to strength in 2026... and only turning 23! Wishing you a very happy birthday to Franco Colapinto.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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