Alpine took part in the third day of the Pirelli test in Barcelona with its reserve driver, Franco Colapinto. The Argentine made his debut with the French team as part of the Formula 1 pre-season activities. Jack Doohan was also present, taking the opportunity to get familiar with the team’s past car.
After the day’s activities, Alpine’s official Instagram account shared a series of photos of the Argentine driver with his teammate. Notably, the prints on his thermos caught attention, including an image of his compatriot and footballer, Lionel Messi. Previously, Colapinto had expressed his admiration for the Inter de Miami striker.
As Colapinto once said, “Leo has been my idol since childhood.” In an interview with ‘The Fast and the Curious’ last year, the 21-year-old competitor expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi. “I really don’t feel at your level. It’s like the best in the world. He has achieved so many things. There is still time, but I don’t like people when people make those comparisons. Leo has been my idol since childhood.”
Colapinto will start the season as a reserve driver for the French team. However, he will be waiting for an opportunity to occupy a grid seat throughout the year. Meanwhile, he will fulfill his duties by providing data that can be useful for improving Alpine’s performance.
Ultimately, Colapinto expressed his wish to meet Lionel Messi in person. “I would love to meet him at some point. I feel that he is the best in football history,” he said.