In the run-up to the Miami Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto experienced a special moment off the track: met Lionel Messi in a match that, as he described, exceeded all his expectations
.The meeting took place at the Inter Miami training ground, where the driver shared a moment with the captain of the Argentine national team and also with Rodrigo De Paul. “It was unique. I wanted to know Leo since he was a baby, but I wanted it to come naturally, that wasn't marketing, with cameras; I didn't want there to be all that circus. It happened in a calm, natural, relaxed way. They spent 20 minutes chatting with Leo, it's a crazy thing, it's something I had never imagined,”
he said.During the meeting between the three, the pilot commented that the talk was relaxed and revolved both around sports and daily life. “He knew a lot about Formula 1; he asked me a lot of questions, about the show too,” he explained, revealing a little-known side of the soccer
player.
"I am happy to have met him as a person; as an athlete we all appreciate him and love him. I think that if there is someone that all Argentines want to meet and dream of meeting, it's Leo, and having the opportunity was a very nice moment,”
he said.The most striking anecdote came when he recalled a one-off consultation with the Rosario: “He asked me if I could get in the car or see it up close. I said: 'Obviously, I'll let you run, I'll leave your helmet on you'”, he laughed
.On the other hand, he referred to the chance to see the 10 in the Miami Grand Prix. “Hopefully it will come. I told him to take care of himself because I'm a little scared in the paddock; they told me that there's a lot of show and there's a lot of people. It would be impressive if he came,” he said.
However, he was cautious about the possible context of the event: “It's going to be a bit of a circus and there are a lot of people. I don't want her to come and have a hard time. Hopefully, if he comes, he will enjoy it; if not, that I will bank from home, which is already an enormous honor,”
he closed.When does Colapinto return to racing
After the break of just over a month due to the cancellations of the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1 will resume action next week with the Miami Grand Prix.The competition will take place at the Miami International Autodrome between Friday, May 1 and Sunday, May 3
