The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path

Joining the FIA Formula 3 grid as a rookie with a team new to the series could prove daunting for most, but then there aren't many drivers who have the extensive experience Franco Colapinto brings from his time racing sportscars. The Argentinian explains how his LMP2 experience is already helping him in 2022

As a rookie on the FIA Formula 3 grid, lining up with series newcomer Van Amersfoort Racing, Franco Colapinto might have been unsure of where he’d end up at last weekend’s season opener at the Bahrain International Circuit. Whatever the 18-year-old was expecting, it wasn’t the pole position he took with his final attempt, overcoming earlier track limit violations to cement his spot at the head of the front row for Sunday’s feature race.

The Argentinian rookie has settled in well at VAR, the storied Dutch team that has previously run the likes of Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Callum Ilott in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. And although he was only classified fifth in the Bahrain feature, courtesy of tyre struggles with his Pirelli rubber plus a five-second track limits penalty which knocked him out of the podium spots, Colapinto says it was a “super” opening weekend that was “better than expected, honestly”.

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Author Megan White

Megan White is Autosport’s News Editor and Formula 2 and 3 reporter.

She began her career in national news after graduating from Kingston University, working at SWNS and the Evening Standard, with a stint working in communications in the music industry.

Megan made the switch to motorsport in 2021, swapping covering COVID and Brexit as a Digital News Editor at LBC for F2, F3 and W Series. Her love of cars began as a child, but her passion for motorsport was ignited after watching the Senna documentary. She has since also developed a fondness for MotoGP.

Away from motorsport, Megan enjoys collecting records, seeing live music and ice hockey.