Components 1 driver has opened up concerning the “particular” second he met Argentine footballer Lionel Messi forward of the Miami Grand Prix.
The countrymen met at Inter Miami’s coaching floor after Colapinto revealed throughout an F1 exhibition run in Buenos Aires that he would love to satisfy Messi. The pair was joined by Messi’s team-mate Rodrigo de Paul.
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“I do not know. I feel it is a actually busy race. They’ve a match on Saturday afternoon. It was a really particular second. It was one thing I had dreamt of all my life. Should you ask any Argentinian who they need to meet, it is Leo. I had the possibility,” Colapinto advised Motorsport.com and different media in Miami.
“I wished, after all, for a really very long time to satisfy him. However I did not have the possibility. No cameras, no advertising and marketing. Simply me, him and Rodrigo [De Paul], the three of us chatting. Having a pleasant dialog exterior of sport and extra private. It was one thing I all the time dreamt of.
“Simply having the chance of assembly him and having his time was a really particular second.”
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Colapinto beforehand gifted certainly one of his race helmets to the footballer in June 2025, with “Thanks for a lot pleasure and so many classes. All the most effective,” written on the sting of the helmet’s visor. The 22-year-old driver is, as you may guess, an enormous fan of the workforce, and has been seen carrying the Argentine workforce Boca Juniors jersey a number of occasions previously.
The Alpine driver at present sits sixteenth within the 2026 drivers’ standings after the primary three rounds, incomes one level on the Chinese language Grand Prix. As compared, his team-mate is eighth with 15 factors.
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The F1 season resumes with the Miami Grand Prix after a five-week break because of the cancellation of the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix.
Photographs from Miami GP – ThursdayGeorge Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
James Sutton / Components 1 / Components Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Photographs
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Environment
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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The Ferrari entrance wing
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Hector Vivas / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Hector Vivas / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Group
James Sutton / Components 1 / Components Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Photographs
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Alexander Albon, Williams
Sona Maleterova / Getty Photographs
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
Sona Maleterova / Getty Photographs
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Hector Vivas / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
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Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Brett Farmer / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Brett Farmer / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Alastair Staley / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Hector Vivas / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Sona Maleterova / Getty Photographs
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A normal view of the paddock inside Onerous Rock Stadium
A normal view of the paddock inside Onerous Rock Stadium
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group
Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Mark Thompson / Getty Photographs
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Alastair Staley / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
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Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
James Sutton / Components 1 / Components Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Photographs
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
James Sutton / Components 1 / Components Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Photographs
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
James Sutton / Components 1 / Components Motorsport Ltd by way of Getty Photographs
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
Hector Vivas / Components 1 by way of Getty Photographs
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ryan Pierse / Getty Photographs
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