Franco Colapinto, one of the great promises of Argentine motorsport, referred for the first time to the episode that linked him sentimentally with Eugenia "la China" Suárez. In a recent interview, the 21-year-old driver acknowledged that the viralization of his encounter with the actress in Madrid took him by surprise and admitted it was "a mistake of fame."
The episode in question occurred in 2023, when Colapinto was caught by paparazzi leaving an exclusive restaurant in the Spanish capital with the former star of Casi Ángeles. The images quickly circulated on social media and caused a wave of comments, from fans' enthusiasm to criticism over the age difference between them.
"It was something I didn't know how to handle at the time. I went from being a normal guy to being in the center of media attention and I made mistakes. I learned that when you're a public figure, every step you take has repercussions," explained the driver in a conversation with the program Telenoche (El Trece).
La China Suárez y Franco Colapinto tuvieron un breve romance en noviembre de 2024
Although Colapinto was cautious when talking about his private life, he acknowledged that the experience left him with an important lesson about exposure and the boundaries between personal and professional life. "I'm an athlete and I'd like people to talk about my career, not what I do off the track. I understand that fame brings these situations, but I prefer the focus to be on my performance as a driver," he stated.
Since his rise to Formula 2 and his subsequent incorporation as a test driver at Williams and Alpine, Colapinto's popularity has grown exponentially. His talent on the track has made him a reference in Argentine motorsport, but it has also exposed him to a media facet he wasn't familiar with.
"It was a radical change. Before, my only concern was racing and improving my times. Nowadays, everything I do generates repercussions and I have to learn to handle it," he admitted.
Beyond the episode with Suárez, Colapinto is completely focused on his sports career. As part of Alpine's driver academy, the Argentine works day by day to secure a seat in Formula 1 and debut in the top category of motorsport.
"My dream has always been to race in F1. I'm in an unbelievable team, surrounded by people who trust me, and my goal is to show that I'm ready to take the next step," he assured.
