Formula 1 had an unusual moment off the track before the Miami GP, with Franco Colapinto experiencing a memorable meeting with Lionel Messi. The Alpine driver described the experience as a dream come true alongside the Argentine idol.
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The meeting took place at the Inter Miami training center, after Colapinto himself publicly expressed the desire to meet Messi during an event in Buenos Aires. The gathering also included Rodrigo De Paul, the player’s teammate.
“It was a very special moment. It was something I dreamed of since I was a child. If you ask any Argentine who they would like to meet, it’s Leo. I had that chance,” Colapinto said, highlighting the personal significance of the experience.
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The driver also emphasized that the meeting was simple and away from the spotlight. “There were no cameras, no marketing. Just me, him, and Rodrigo talking. It was something more personal, outside of sport, and that made everything even more special,” he explained.
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A big fan of Messi, Colapinto had already gifted the player a helmet in 2025, accompanied by a thank-you message. The Argentine, who also shows his fan side by wearing the Boca Juniors jersey, is having a quiet start to the Formula 1 season, currently in 16th place in the championship with one point.
Meanwhile, his teammate, Pierre Gasly, is eighth in the standings with 15 points. The Formula 1 season returns this weekend with the Miami GP, after a five-week break in the calendar.
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