Formula One driver Franco Colapinto has left fans astonished after unveiling a dramatic physical transformation in a viral training video. The 22-year-old Argentine, preparing for his second season with Alpine ahead of the 2026 campaign, shared footage of himself running shirtless along a road in neighbouring Uruguay, revealing significantly increased upper body muscle and definition.
The clip, filmed by his coach and friend Lucas Benamo, prompted a flurry of reactions on social media. One fan commented, 'What a shape Franco is [in],' while another noted, 'Bro is absolutely JACKED.' A third hailed an 'Awesome transformation!', and a fourth joked that he might no longer fit in his seat. Colapinto captioned the post: 'Happy to have visited and travelled around this country before returning to Europe. See you soon.'
Colapinto will soon head back to Alpine's base in Enstone, Oxfordshire, ahead of the team's private testing in late January and February. This marks his third season in the F1 paddock, having emerged through the Williams Driver Academy and replaced Logan Sargeant midway through the 2024 season. After finishing his debut season in 19th place with five points, he signed a multi-year deal as a test and reserve driver with Alpine in 2025.
Following Jack Doohan's relegation to reserve driver after last year's Miami Grand Prix, Colapinto made his team debut at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. He crashed during qualifying and incurred a one-place grid penalty, finishing the race in 16th position. His best performance of the season came in the Netherlands, where he finished 11th, but he ended the season without any points.
Despite these setbacks, Alpine's managing director Steve Nielsen remains supportive, stating: 'Franco is a young driver. We've seen other young drivers go through good and difficult periods - he's on that journey. There were races earlier in the year when he was a match for Pierre [Gasly] and on a couple of occasions maybe even faster than Pierre in the races. He's on that journey, and we'll give him all the support he needs to be as quick as he can be.'
