Formula 1: Colapinto referred to Doohan and talked about the challenges of his debut at Alpine

Just hours before getting back into a Formula 1 car during the practice sessions for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto spoke with ESPN and addressed various topics. Among the most notable points are his season debut, the performance of the car, and his relationship with Jack Doohan, his teammate.

Regarding the Australian, whom he will replace from this competition due to his discreet results in the first six dates of the calendar, the young man from Pilar expressed his support without hesitation. "Doohan is a good guy, it's a shame because Formula 1 is difficult and one doesn't decide when to get into a car," he commented.

He also recounted how it was when he received the news of his return to the top category: "After Miami they called me and told me I was going to race. I had been preparing in the simulator in case the opportunity came and to help the team with the setup. I was helping as much as I could."

As for what's coming, Colapinto is already starting to feel the excitement for Imola: "I'm much more at ease, it's still what I was looking for. While it's still a dream, it was a goal and something I saw very close. While it was a super positive news, it was something I somewhat expected, the feeling is different after they told me. My goal is to have good results and help the team, not just fulfill my dream. While I have to go step by step, my idea was to return to where I wanted to be."

Additionally, he talked about how he approaches this return and his focus for the weekend. "This weekend I want to do all the basics right, all the growth and what the team tells me, I have to go step by step because I don't know the car. There are three free practices, I have to start from scratch and obviously the goal is to take the team where we should be. Personal goals go beyond and will change over time. I think after the practices I'll have a clearer picture," he commented.

About the adaptation process and the feelings with the vehicle, he was very honest: "If you listen to Sainz and Hamilton, they have to give me five years to adapt. I tested the car, did tests and it helped me get used to the team. It's all very different, beyond the setups, the part of the settings, which is what we use in the car, it's all different. It's starting from scratch and we're going to reach a good position. In the end, it's about getting a bit used to the car so that the results are good. The car is not in a good moment, we have to be realistic and we have to improve it to help the team achieve long-term goals."

Finally, Colapinto had words for the Argentine fans and fondly remembered Flaco Traverso: "Argentine fans are unbelievable. The team couldn't believe it, they were a bit upset, ha. We are very passionate about the athletes and the people we support because they made a huge sacrifice and it was my dream since I was a kid. It's a way to show that it's not so impossible and that there's a chance if you try. It's a nice weekend to start and remember a bit of Flaco Traverso, whom I took with me in the car a year ago and we won."