Franco Colapinto will perform a historic Formula 1 showrun on April 26 in Buenos Aires' Palermo, driving a 2012 F1 car down a two-kilometer city circuit and becoming the first Argentine to pilot an F1 car on the city's streets. The Alpine and BWT colors will dress the 2012 E20 he will drive along Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento, putting a modern F1 machine in front of home fans in the heart of the city.
The run marks a rare moment for Argentina and for Colapinto. He will be the first Argentine driver to steer an F1 car through Buenos Aires, a landmark that ties his home support to the sport he is aiming to reach at the top level. The choice of the E20 in Alpine and BWT livery connects the spectacle to a current F1 brand while keeping the focus on the experience for the crowd.
Organizers will turn a two-kilometer stretch of Palermo’s main avenues into a temporary city circuit for two official showruns. The plan uses Avenida del Libertador and Avenida Sarmiento to form the route, creating long sightlines and wide viewing zones. The program is built around a public day out. Fans will find interactive areas, a fan forum, and live music around the course. The layout will let people line the route and watch the car accelerate, brake, and change direction in a setting they know from daily life.
Access is set to be broad. General admission is free to the public, with premium viewing areas on sale for those who want reserved space and closer vantage points. The City of Buenos Aires is backing the event, and Mercado Libre is named as the sponsor. The setup reflects a fan-focused approach with open access and extra options for those seeking a dedicated spot. The support from the city aligns with efforts to bring large-scale motorsport activations back to the capital.
The showrun is the first F1 street demonstration in Buenos Aires since 2012. It recalls Daniel Ricciardo’s appearance in the same district, which drew big attention at the time and showed the appetite for top-tier machinery in public spaces. Argentina last hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1998. Since then, the country has maintained a strong motorsport culture, but F1 has not returned. Local track upgrades planned for MotoGP 2027 point to renewed investment in facilities. Against that backdrop, Colapinto’s run could lend momentum to efforts aimed at reviving a Grand Prix in the future.
For Colapinto, the day is about giving back to the fans who have followed his rise. He has framed the event as a personal career highlight and a chance to bring F1 noise and speed to the people who supported him from the start. A street run in Palermo lets him share part of the sport’s experience with those who might not travel to a race. It also places an Argentine driver at the center of a high-profile motorsport moment in his own city.
The plan for two official showruns will give spectators multiple chances to see and hear the car in action. The streets of Palermo are expected to carry the echo of an F1 engine as the E20 moves through the course, with the fan forum and music building a festival feel around the main act. The combination of free entry, central location, and a modern F1 car points to a day designed for wide public access.
This Buenos Aires showrun blends history and ambition. It marks the return of an F1 car to city streets after more than a decade, connects a current Argentine talent to a national audience, and fits into a broader push to bring global motorsport events back to Argentina. For one afternoon in Palermo, F1 will meet the city at street level, with Colapinto in the cockpit and thousands of fans looking on.