P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Calls for Argentina F1 return grow after Franco Colapinto Buenos Aires demo draws 600,000 fans
Alpine F1 driver Franco Colapinto thrilled huge crowds with a Formula 1 demonstration run on the streets of Buenos Aires, showcasing the Enstone team’s 2026 livery on a 2012 Lotus E20.
Over 600,000 fans attended the event, dubbed Mercado Libre presents: Franco Colapinto Road Show Buenos Aires 2026, that transformed Avenida del Liberator and Avenida Sarmiento into a 2km street circuit in the Palermo neighborhood.
Colapinto, who also drove a replica Mercedes W196, has garnered immense popularity in Argentina, leading to calls for F1 to return to the country, which last hosted a grand prix in 1998.
Supported by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, the event turned into a festival, featuring a fan forum, music acts, and various activities for attendees.
Colapinto’s rise in F1 saw him debut with Williams in 2024, switch to Alpine in 2025, and secure his first points for the team at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.
The Oscar y Juan Galvez Autdrome, set to host MotoGP in the upcoming year, aims to bring F1 back to Argentina in the future, further fueling Colapinto’s connection with his fans and the sport.
