Franco Colapinto to drive Alpine F1 car through Buenos Aires in historic homecoming road show

The BWT Alpine Formula One Team confirmed that the Argentinian driver will take to the wheel of the Alpine E20 on a 2km temporary street circuit laid out on Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento, with two official show runs planned as the centrepiece of the day in Palermo, Buenos Aires.

It will mark a notable moment for Argentinian motorsport, with Colapinto set to become the first Argentinian to drive a Formula 1 car on the streets of Buenos Aires.

Alpine said the car will run in full BWT Alpine Formula One Team livery and be powered by a V8 Renault engine, giving local fans a rare chance to see and hear a Formula 1 machine in the heart of the capital.

For Colapinto, the event is clearly personal. He said: “Driving at home in a Formula One car will be one of the most special moments of my life. It's my way of giving back, even just a little, for all the support and love I've received since I was very young, which pushes me every day to keep dreaming of achieving all my career ambitions. Every message, every flag, and every cheer has always been there. This is for all of you, to enjoy this special moment together.”

Beyond the on track element, the road show will be staged as a wider public festival, with organisers planning fan experiences, guest activities, a fan forum and live music across the day.

The event also carries institutional support from the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, which is using the occasion as part of a broader push to attract major international events to the city.

That backing underlines the scale of the occasion, even if this is not a competitive Formula 1 return for Argentina. Instead, it is a high-profile showcase built around the country’s young star and the enthusiasm of a fanbase that has waited a long time for a moment like this.

With Formula 1 continuing to grow globally, Alpine is tapping into that momentum by putting Colapinto at the centre of an event designed to reconnect the sport with one of South America’s most passionate audiences.

For Argentine fans, the significance will be simple enough. On 26 April, the sound of a V8 Formula 1 car will echo through Buenos Aires, with Colapinto at the wheel in front of his home crowd.