Barrichello and Fontana expect to become “great” in Formula 1 with Bortoletto

continuity Franco Colapinto In Formula 1 he has two South American finishes in the 2026 season. In a class dominated by Europeans -13 although he could join Alex AlbonWho races under the Thai flag but was born in England – in the presence of Argentine pilot W Gabriel Bortoletto They fuel the dreams of thousands of young people who travel abroad with the dream of one day becoming one of the twenty (22 next year, with the Cadillac team joining) on ​​the planet chosen to drive at the highest level.

Rubens Barrichello and Norberto Fontana There were two of them. The Brazilian did it between 1993 and 2011, and six of those seasons were for Ferrari, the team that has been around since the invention of the great circus in 1950 and in which he achieved second place twice (2002 and 2004). He is clearly still very attached to Formula 1 and this week was particularly close to Colapinto: he received him at his home for lunch where the contract had already been signed but Alpine confirmed on Friday that it was definitely celebrated. “It was a great moment, we were the Brazilian and Argentinian band, the dogs, the meat, and it was fun.”Participate in a conversation with Clarin.

In the talk, the 53-year-old from São Paulo spoke about the importance of having Bortoletto and Colapinto on the Formula 1 grid: “Having two South Americans confirmed for next season is great, we have been without Argentinian and Brazilian drivers for so long.. So it is a factor of great happiness.”. He praised them: “They are young but they have experience in other categories, so we are with them Two have every chance to be great in Formula 1 also”.

Fontana for his part He is one of 23 Argentine drivers to have raced in the 75-year history of Formula 1. And now he is happy with the news about the 22-year-old from Buenos Aires: “Happy for Franco and Argentina. It is very good for him that they have already confirmed it, and he will be calmer. And it is a great pleasure for Argentina that it has been confirmed at this time of the year. Since the time of Lolli (Carlos Reutemann) there has not been a driver confirmed yet upfront. It allows you to be calmer, show yourself better, and not be involved in race after race, with a lot of tension. Although he looks very relaxed and seems to be relaxed, I think he is.” Being indoors, otherwise he would not be human. Formula 1 is very tough, very cruel. And in our case, the Latino pilots – Argentinian and Brazilian -, We always had to dance with the ugliest thing, which is arriving under pressure because you don’t have the budget. This year it happened differently, and we are congratulations that it did so.”.

Present at Interlagos with his wife and children Delfina and Matteo – who had a special moment after the race with Colapinto -, the man from the countryside recalled his career, which included Four major awards in 1997 He admitted what he thought when his children told him “Dad, I was here, and I was one of them.”. “We are not aware of it, but on the entire planet there are only 20 people, and one is Argentine, Franco. For me it was a dream, it wasn’t me, it was someone else, because when you’re there, you don’t take into account the dimensions of what’s happening. And from the outside, seeing the whole atmosphere and the sponsors, the fact that I was one of those who drove one of these cars and that I was there, out of the entire planet, out of the 20 or 22 cars we were involved in that year, is crazy. To get here, they also won races and championships… doesn’t mean they give you the seat. “But it’s still shocking to see him from a distance, and now he’s 50, it’s crazy.”it comes down to it.

For Fontana This boost to Argentine motorsport would be “very good”, as would the presence of Nicolas Faraone in Formula 2 starting in 2026.. “It’s good because I think Argentina has a lot of drivers with a lot of talent and we didn’t have any expectations and it seems like the opportunity has come up now.” Small door “With the influence of Franco’s contagion,” said the man who spent every Sunday with his family near the Alpine region and Andrea, Colapinto’s mother.

“I am a very supportive and follower of the boys who have gone abroad because I know what it is like, having been there for so many years, and being left alone, leaving affection behind. Today everyone is with him “Franco, Franco”But to get here there was a roadAnd it was ours too. I sold the lottery so I could runI have lived for many years alone in a mobile home in Europe, and at some point my father helped me, but it is not easy. Now support him and ask the people of Argentina to put themselves where they should be, because sometimes I see critics and in Formula 1 there are 20 drivers around the world. For example, the Argentine national team has 20 or 22 players. Well, today we have one of our own here and we have to defend her.”