Archive image of Lionel Messi (left) and Franco Colapinto (right)© X (Twitter)
Rookie Franco Colapinto on Thursday dismissed rumors he is Formula One’s Lionel Messi as he prepares for his Italian Grand Prix debut. Colapinto will become the first Argentine driver to compete in F1 in more than two decades this weekend at Monza after replacing struggling Logan Sargeant for Williams. His appointment delighted fans of the sport in his country, but when asked if he felt like football icon Messi before the last World Cup, Colapinto said such comments were “crazy” .
“It’s very difficult to feel like Lionel Messi, I don’t know what it’s like to feel that,” Colapinto told reporters.
“But sometimes I see they are comparing me and I’m like, you guys are crazy, like Messi is God, it’s like you can’t, how are you comparing me?
Colapinto has not set high expectations for his debut with Williams, which has just a paltry four points in the F1 constructors’ championship.
“I don’t expect much… I just want to take it step by step, I want to focus on myself,” he added.
“That’s the main thing in my opinion. Being able to concentrate on my job. Being able to do what the team expects. And I’m, to be honest, more than sure I can do that.”
The action begins on Friday at Monza with the first two of three free practice sessions over the weekend.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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