Formula One F1 - Sao Paulo Grand Prix - Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 2, 2024 General view of rain in the pitlane after qualifying is postponed due to bad weather REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Argentines have taken over Sao Paulo's atmospheric Interlagos circuit to support Franco Colapinto in his first Formula One race in South America, with the Williams driver looking to secure a seat for 2025.
Argentine flags and shirts have been everywhere at the Brazilian race, with large numbers of fans in the stands and crowding catwalks above the paddock for a glimpse of Colapinto up close.
The 21-year-old, who made his debut at the Italian Grand Prix in September replacing Logan Sargeant and has so far scored five points in five races, is the first Argentine driver on the grid since Gaston Mazzacane in 2001.
"I never had someone from Argentina (to root for) and I think it's something that the kids of nowadays have with me," Colapinto told reporters. "And it's something very, very nice to see and just very positive."
Argentina produced five-time world champion Juan Manuel Fangio but has not been top of the podium since Carlos Reutemann's final race win in 1981, despite the popularity of the sport in the country of 45 million people that hosted a race until 1998.
"I feel proud for everything he represents both on the sports and on the human front," Argentine Sports Secretary Daniel Scioli told Reuters. "He's been getting compliments from very experienced people. It is wonderful. He is very focused."
Scioli had a meeting at Interlagos with Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali in an approach to bring Formula One back to Argentina, but acknowledged there was still a lot of work ahead for a race to eventually be held there.
'NEW SENSATION'
The Sao Paulo city hall said ahead of this weekend's race that Argentines already made up for most of the foreigners attending the Brazilian grand prix in 2023, and a further boost was expected this year due to the "new sensation".
The Williams driver has drawn praise from peers such as multiple world champions Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who said he was doing a "great job".
But the Argentine will not race for Williams in 2025 as they have already signed Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz.
He has been cited most recently as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez at Red Bull, as the Mexican - who technically has a contract for 2025 - has struggled with his performance lately.
Hamilton said Colapinto needed to make sure his team was doing everything they could to find him a spot on the grid for next year.
"He's earned his right to be here," the seven-time world champion told reporters.
Williams team principal James Vowles acknowledged they were "exploring possibilities with a number of teams interested" but declined to elaborate, noting that anything beyond that would be speculating.
"He's an exceptional driver," Vowles said.
"Go look outside. There were tens of thousands of individuals here to support a driver that's been in our championship for five races. He's doing an outstanding job on track."
(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
