Franco Colapinto has already left the summer break behind and is focused on the return of the Formula 1. The Argentine will face the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend in Zandvoort, and before returning to the track, he highlighted the growth of Alpine during the first half of the season and set a goal to finish among the top ten again.
"I am very eager to get back to racing after a summer vacation that did me a lot of good", expressed Colapinto, who arrives at the second half of the championship with 19 points and with the French team in a fierce battle for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.
The Buenos Aires native recalled that his break started later than the other drivers because he participated in the Pirelli tire tests in Hungary, although he later added that he managed to have his time to rest. "Afterwards I was able to really relax and recharge my batteries after a truly intense first half of the season", he commented.
Returning to the competitive aspect, the driver acknowledged that the end of the first part of the calendar left mixed feelings, although it also served to gauge the evolution of the team. "We finished a bit disappointed, but I have been able to reflect on it because it shows how far we have come as a team from the position we were in last year. Being now in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship is really impressive and we all want to do a great job and secure the result for the team", he stated.
Now, the challenge will be to regain rhythm in Zandvoort, a circuit that the Argentine knows very well from previous experiences. "There is still a long way to go, so we have to start off on the right foot in Zandvoort this weekend. It’s a circuit that I really like and I remember it well from when I competed in lower categories", he maintained.
Finally, Colapinto referred to the challenge he will face in the next GP, which will have a Sprint format, and what his goal will be for it. "It will be interesting to see how this Sprint weekend unfolds, and we need to start well on Friday morning to find the rhythm and give it our all from the beginning, with the goal of getting back into the top 10", he concluded.
When Colapinto returns to race
After the race on Hungarian soil, Formula 1 will take a break for the summer holidays. In this sense, the category will return in one month with the Dutch Grand Prix. Action at the Zandvoort circuit will kick off on Friday, August 21 with a single free practice and the Sprint qualifying, and will conclude on Sunday, August 23 with the main race.
In his only appearance in Dutch territory driving in the top category, Colapinto narrowly missed the points zone with an 11th place finish.
