Argentina’s Interest in Hosting Formula One Rekindled by Franco Colapinto’s Success
Argentina is contemplating a return to the Formula One calendar following a surge in popularity sparked by the impressive debut of driver Franco Colapinto. The 21-year-old Argentine driver stepped in for Logan Sargeant at Williams after the Dutch Grand Prix in August and secured his first points by finishing in eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Colapinto’s achievement marked the first time an Argentine driver scored points since Carlos Reutemann in 1982.
Despite Colapinto’s noteworthy performances, his prospects for the 2025 season appear limited, as Carlos Sainz has already been confirmed as Alex Albon’s teammate. Williams’ team principal, James Vowles, has floated the idea of initiating discussions with Sauber (Audi) regarding their available second seat. Colapinto’s recent successes have led to a significant increase in Formula One’s popularity in Argentina, with many locals considering attending the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix next month. The last time Argentina hosted a Grand Prix was in 1998 in Buenos Aires, with Brazil’s Interlagos circuit currently being the only South American track on the F1 calendar.
Minister for tourism, environment, and sport in Argentina, Daniel Scioli, has expressed the government’s interest in reintroducing Formula One to the country and plans to engage in discussions with F1 officials during the Brazilian GP in Sao Paulo next month. While the 2026 calendar has already been finalised with 24 races, the earliest Argentina could potentially make a comeback to the F1 calendar is in 2026. However, this timeline may be challenging to meet, given that the Autodromo Oscar Alfredo Galvez, where the last Argentine Grand Prix took place, has deteriorated and would require substantial investments to meet the FIA Grade 1 standards necessary for hosting an F1 event.
Additionally, F1 is exploring opportunities to expand to new locations such as Rwanda, Thailand, and South Korea to leverage the sport’s growing global appeal. Madrid is set to host the Spanish Grand Prix on a street circuit from 2026, casting uncertainty on the future of the current venue in Barcelona. Furthermore, there are seven current F1 venues whose contracts are set to expire after 2025, including Belgium, Monaco, Italy (Monza), Mexico, Imola, Netherlands, and China.
The enthusiasm surrounding Franco Colapinto’s success and the potential return of Argentina to the Formula One calendar signals a promising future for motorsport in the region, with fans eagerly anticipating the possibility of witnessing F1 action on home soil once again.