F1 driver Franco Colapinto calls Spain celebrations after World Cup final ‘shameful’

Argentina Formula 1 driver Franco Colapinto has criticised the way Spain celebrated their World Cup final victory over his country, describing some of the scenes as “shameful”.

Colapinto, who competes for Alpine in Formula 1, admitted that he and many other Argentinians are still struggling to come to terms with losing the World Cup final to Spain.

Speaking to ESPN, the 21-year-old took aim at how Spanish fans reacted after the triumph over Argentina, saying he was unimpressed by the behaviour he witnessed.

“The spread of Spanish shirts during the World Cup? Suddenly they started wearing them when they won, and not before that. It’s shameful,” Colapinto said, suggesting many supporters only appeared to embrace the team once the trophy was secured.

He went on to criticise what he sees as a lack of traditional fan culture among Spanish supporters compared to that of Argentina, which is renowned worldwide for its passionate and inventive chants.

“They don’t even have songs to chant,” he added, pointing to Argentina’s reputation for creating distinctive anthems for major tournaments and matches.

The comments highlight the lingering disappointment in Argentina following the defeat to Spain, with emotions still raw among sections of the country’s sporting community.

During the interview, Colapinto also referred to what he had heard about extreme reactions to the loss, mentioning claims that some people had attempted to burn a Lionel Messi shirt in the aftermath of the final.

He did not elaborate further, as the interviewer chose to quickly steer the conversation away from the subject, sensing that the discussion was becoming increasingly sensitive.

Colapinto’s remarks reflect an ongoing sense of hurt among Argentine fans who had high expectations heading into the World Cup and have found the nature of Spain’s celebrations difficult to accept.

While Spain’s victory has been widely celebrated within the country, the reaction from figures such as Colapinto underlines how the final has left a lasting emotional impact on supporters in Argentina, where football and national identity are closely intertwined.

Despite now making his name in motorsport rather than football, Colapinto’s comments underline how deeply the World Cup result has resonated across different sports in Argentina, extending far beyond the pitch and continuing to stir strong feelings months after the final whistle.