Colapinto admits World Cup final nerves dwarf Belgian GP anxiety after Argentina stun England

Franco Colapinto admitted on Thursday at Spa-Francorchamps that Argentina’s World Cup final against Spain will leave him considerably more anxious than the Belgian Grand Prix itself, speaking to media after arriving at the Formula 1 paddock in a Lionel Messi shirt. The Alpine driver’s comments came a day after Argentina eliminated England in an emotionally charged semi-final.

“I’m definitely going to be much more nervous about the match than the race,” Colapinto said. “I feel that it’s a match to be proud of — Argentina and Spain are in the final. Two Latino countries, just leaving out France and England. It’s the best final we could ask for.”

Colapinto was visibly moved by Argentina’s semi-final performance, drawing a comparison to the country’s iconic 1986 World Cup campaign. “This is the kind of match that really shows why Argentina is one of the biggest teams in the history of football,” he said. “It is in the important matches that you show what you are made of.”

The 21-year-old reserved particular praise for Lionel Messi and the squad’s resilience throughout the tournament. “They had really tricky situations and really tricky moments when they were not playing so well. But they didn’t give up. Until it’s over, it is not over.”

On the semi-final victory over England specifically, Colapinto kept his words measured but warm. “We hadn’t played England for a very long time and we’re just really happy that we took the win. Happy for the team, happy for Messi. Very proud of my country.”

On the track, Colapinto heads into the Belgian Grand Prix sitting 13th in the drivers’ championship with 18 points, as he continues his debut season with Alpine.