Barrichello and Fontana expected to be ‘great’ in F1 with Bortleto

continuity of Franco Colapinto F1 has secured two South American athletes for the 2026 season. -13 in a European-dominated category, but he could be available Alex AlbonHe will be participating in the race flying the Thai flag, but due to the presence of an Argentine pilot who was born in the UK, Gabriel Bortleto They feed the dreams of thousands of young people who head overseas with the dream of one day being selected as one of the 20 people selected to drive at the highest level on the planet (22 starting next year, with the participation of the Cadillac team).

rubens barrichello and Norberto Fontana There were two of them. The Brazilian played from 1993 to 2011, six of those seasons with Ferrari. Ferrari has been around since the creation of the Grand Circus in 1950, where they achieved two runner-up finishes (2002 and 2004). He clearly still has strong ties to F1 and was particularly close to Colapinto this week. Although the deal has already been signed, Alpine confirmed on Friday that Lunch, who was welcomed to Colapinto’s home, was definitely a celebration. “It was a sacred moment. We were a Brazilian-Argentine band, we were dogs, we were meat, and we had fun.”he shared in a conversation with Clarin.

In his speech, the 53-year-old from Sao Paulo reflected on the importance of Bortleto and Colapinto on the F1 grid. ”It’s great to have two South American drivers confirmed for next season, but we’ve been without an Argentine and a Brazilian driver for a long time.. So it’s a huge element of happiness. ”. And he praised them: “They are young but have experience in other categories, so we are working together.” Two people with the potential to be great in F1 Also”.

Mr. Fontana is He is one of only 23 Argentine drivers to have raced in F1’s 75-year history. And now he is delighted with the news of the 22-year-old young man from Buenos Aires. “It’s good for Franco and for Argentina. It’s very good for him that it’s already been approved. He’ll be much more settled. And it’s a great joy for Argentina to be approved at this time of year. Not since the days of Lorre (Carlos Reutemann) has a team been approved so much in advance. There’s never been a driver who’s been more relaxed. It allows him to be more calm and project himself better without going into every race with such tension. Even though he looks very relaxed, I think that’s happening on the inside, otherwise he wouldn’t be human. F1 is very difficult, very graphic and brutal. And in our case, we have Latin pilots, an Argentinian and a Brazilian. We’ve always had to dance with the ugliest. This means you arrive under pressure because you don’t have a budget. And this year something different happened, and congratulations on that.”.

The Leaf native, who attended Interlagos with his wife and children Delfina and Mateo (with whom he shared a special post-race moment with Colapinto), reflected on his career: Received 4 Grand Prizes in 1997 He then confessed how he felt when the children said this to him. “Dad, you were here too, you were one of them.”. “We don’t realize it, but there are only 20 people on the planet, and one of them is Argentinian, and he is Franco. For me it was a dream. It wasn’t me, it was someone else. Because when you’re there, you can’t understand what’s going on. And from the outside looking in, looking at the whole atmosphere, looking at the sponsors, the fact that I was one of the guys who drove one of these cars, out of the 20 or 22 that raced that year, and there were people from all over the planet there, it’s crazy. To get here they also won races and championships…that doesn’t mean they give you a seat. But it’s still shocking and crazy to see him from a distance at 50 years old.he related.

For Fontana, This boost is “very good” for Argentine motorsport, as is Nicolas Varone’s presence in F2 starting in 2026.. “This is good because I think there are a lot of talented drivers in Argentina. We didn’t have any predictions, but now it looks like the opportunities are opening up.” small door With Franco’s contagious effect,” said the man who spent all Sunday with his family in close proximity to the Alpine Box and with Colapinto’s mother, Andrea.

“I’m very much an advocate and supporter of the boys who went abroad, because I know what it’s like to be abroad for years and be lonely and leave your love behind and go abroad. We’re all with him today. “Franco, Franco”but there was a way to get hereso were we. We sold lottery tickets so you can run.I’ve been living alone in a mobile home in Europe for years, and at one point an old man helped me out, but it’s not easy. Support him now and ask the Argentine people to put themselves where they belong. Because I sometimes see critics and F1 has 20 drivers around the world. For example, the Argentina national team has 20 or 22 players. Well, today we have our team here and we have to defend it,” he asked.