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fcaruana · 8 days ago

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Hiiii! I hate to ask I’m so sorry if this is a burden, but would you mind translating the full interview Franco did with that lady, the one where he shows his empty fridge? 😂 the auto translated subs aren’t the best and I’d love to know what he’s saying for real. Even if it’s just in transcript form if you can’t put the English subs into the actual video

F: So, my motorsport experience was always kind of individual and lonely, I was always very lonely at the beginning.

M: You came here to Europe when you were 14 years old, right?

F: Yes, so that entire family-like part of motorsport that I had in Argentina, going to races with my family-

M: I remember your mom, she was there when I interviewed you. You also have a little sister, no?

F: Yes, Martu. They'd always come to see my races in Argentina, whether it was karting or any other category, we always went together. But afterwards, that family-like part of motorsport disappeared for me. All those years I raced here in Europe I was always very lonely. Motorsport in Argentina represents families so much.

I've always thought that so many more argentinians followed F1. I realized that not so much, because there are so many people that started watching F1 just now. Since it's such an attracting sport, you can watch the races on Sundays at 10-11 am... I thought people watched it but I realized many didn't. Most of the people that started following me did it because there was an argentinian in F1, but they didn't follow the sport before.

M: Do you think that was something you lacked when you were a kid? A driver for you to say "I watch F1 just to support this person"?

F: Yes, I always say that I would've loved to have an argentinian driver to cheer for, to wake up in the mornings to watch their races. I used to wake up to watch Checo Pérez' races and it filled me with pride because we, all argentinians, felt like Checo was our closest driver. But the truth is that I've never had a driver from our country. Now being the one who gives so many kids the possibility to have an argentinian to root for, being the reason they get into this sport... now there are so many kids that are starting in karting...

M: That's what I was thinking, it's not uncommon that many people dream of making it to F1, but Argentina is very divided because there is a very strong national motorsport. Many karting drivers want to become professional drivers. Many dream of making it to F1 because it's the world's maximum category after all, but there was a clarity in you, saying "I want to do this"...

F: I knew what I wanted since I was a kid. My dream wasn't to race in TC or TC2000 [argentinian racing series].

M: Exactly. That's a different route.

F: It's a different route. What I see since a while ago, nowadays, 90% of the kids race in karting with the dream of making it to TC.

M: Exactly, but you're making another dream available. Because it's not the same now, being able to say "Look, there's a boy, argentinian, that did the same thing I did, that later went to Italy, and later-"

F: Looking at my messages, all of them have written to me "Hey, how did you start? How can I make it to F1 as well?" so I'm like okay, obviously it's very very VERY hard, but it is possible.

M: It's the confirmation, it is possible. The path is clearer, that's where the way is.

F: Yeah. But what I see is that Argentina's national motorsport is very strong.TC, TC2000 has so much weight. So a little kid grows up watching these races and their dream becomes just that, it takes them to that path.

F: Every athlete is proud of our home country, and I think that we will always show it in our character, our attitude, even while racing.

M: We were talking today about el Flaco Traverso. Just like Diego [Maradona] within his football always showed a very argentinian attitude, el Flaco also was a very argentinian character in motorsport.

F: Yes, el Flaco had such an argentinian attitude, I grew up with him, he was my idol. I remember being in Europe, showing videos of el Flaco to the Spaniards all the time and they were like "Who is this?!".

M: We all feel that it's a shame he couldn't see this, it would've been– he was so close to see it. We all thought that.

F: Things started happening right at the moment he left us, I think it's something that goes by hand... el Flaco, watching us from above, was the one who helped me, pushed me to where I am today.

M: It's beautiful for you to say that. Because we also said it back then, with Maradona and the World Cup, the fact that he couldn't see this last World Cup [that we won]. There might be something energetic, no?

F: Yes, I believe a lot in energies and all that strength that every argentinian started to put in, bringing it to motorsport for a driver that has been trying to achieve his dream for so long in Europe. I think that el Flaco helped me so much.

M: Like an amulet.

F: Yes, I really feel like he was part of all this. Meeting him in Argentina in 2022 was a dream come true for me.

M: Do you feel like you have a responsibility, or something like that?

F: No, zero. I love argentinians' support, I love that they are enjoying what is happening because it's something that hasn't happened in so long. It's been 23 years since the last argentinian F1 driver and now there's a chance of having an argentinian driver that is scoring points, doing well, it's something that our country needed. A lot of people was waiting for it. I love seeing them enjoying it so much, waking up in the mornings, celebrating when I do well, supporting me when I don't. It's very beautiful and it makes me very proud, because there is so much work behind, to make it to where I am.

M: You could've had a whole different life, if you weren't a driver, what would you have been? Have you thought about it? Leaving karting as if it was just a hobby, graduating high school, then...

F: I don't know, I've never thought of being anything but a car driver. Since I was a kid, it was very clear for me. Maybe different things could've happened, but always related to cars. I went to a technical school, so what I've always wanted was related to these things.

M: Do you have a diet, like, an athlete's diet?

F: Yes, I do have a diet, the problem is that I don't follow it.

M: May I know what that diet is like?

F: Franco's diet has lots of chicken, rice, basic and boring stuff. Veggies as well. I don't mind eating vegetables. I found some broccoli and cauliflowers that you put in the microwave and they cook themselves in 3 minutes. It's ideal, it's crazy.

M: But, do you put in any flavor? Soy sauce-

F: Only salt, pepper and olive oil.

M: For nutrition purposes is good, but you should explore some condiments- it'd be much better. You must notice it when someone else cooks for you!

F: Yes, I notice it, but I'm fine like this so when someone cooks for me I'm like "WOW you cook SO well! This is SO good!" because of course my bar is through the floor! Just eating chicken and broccoli every day...

M: Is your team/nutritionist too insistent with that stuff?

F: During the races it's quite important because, per example, in Singapore I lost over 3 kilos during the race. So you must have your food and hydration well-controlled. From Wednesday to Tuesday you must follow a food program and know the amount of weight and water you lose, how much you'll ingest, the sodium- I live solely on sodium during race weekends. The amount of salt I eat during a race weekend is unbelievable, because it's the only way for your body to maintain all the water inside your muscles. When you lose 3.5 kg you have to find the way to keep that water in.

M: Was it like this in F2, F3 and F4?

F: In F2 yes, F3 less, F4 no. In F2 I was in the same form I am today. I was ready for F1 then, because I was a reserve driver and if something happened I had to be ready. This year I took a big step in my preparation, especially the neck part.

M: Yeah, I saw, I know the size of your neck and all. The world knows how big your neck is, Franco.

F: The world knows! It's public!

M: Nobody else knows the size of their necks, I don't know mine. I think we all should measure our neck.

F: It's such a silly measurement. The reference, 43, is it a lot? Is it too little? Maybe I have a small neck. Maybe I measure yours and it's 50! We don't know.

M: Hey, the house tour... could we? Let's do it!

M: No, no, no, Franco, you need to negotiate for a better contract, man.

F: Yeah, I know.

M: I've never seen a fridge so empty in my life.

F: Look I have an ice cube tray!

M: But- did you move in today?!!

F: No, no... it's just that I don't eat anything.

M: You don't even have broccoli, what will you have for dinner tonight?

F: I'll just order something...

M: Look, Quilmes glasses!

F: The only ones I have. If you'd like a beer later, I have some, I'll open one for you.

F: Here's my helmet. I love it, it's so beautiful, with our flag all around it. Incredible. A little Biza cap, a Quilmes one.

[Martina points at the plants on the counter]

M: Are those real? Or are they made of plastic?

F: They're fake, of course. How could they be real? They'd die!

M: I have to ask you something, before I go. I forget I'm interviewing a F1 driver. And you told me that your dream was racing in F1.

F: I told you that a long time ago, I don't know how can you remember it! [Laughs]

M: I don't know how! It's not because there is a video! But seriously, I can't help asking you: Now, that you are a driver of the world's maximum category, what is your dream, so to speak, within this activity? [Laughs] That's exactly what I asked you in the past!

F: Well, I think that any driver's dream is to make it to F1 and that's what I worked so hard for...

M: Don't you have other dreams?

F: Of course I do, but when you achieve it, it's like– I don't know, I just got there and I already wanted to score points.

M: Done!

F: What's next? Make it to a podium. What's next?

M: But say it clearly!

F: I got into Q1, Q2, then I got into Q3 and it's like... that vision turns into something bigger. That's why drivers and athletes have gotten where we are, for being like this, competitive, for having this hunger to keep achieving things and not settling, not being conformists.

M: I think your North is renewed, after conquering it.

F: Of course, when I made it to F1 I said "I'd love to score points in a race. It'd be my dream to score points." After scoring points, now I want more.

M: Say it!

F: I mean, in the future my dream is to win the Formula 1, obviously.

M: There it is! You have to say it!

F: But first, maybe get a podium in the future, in a couple years. Then, win a race. Then, a world championship.

M: It's like a little stair.

F: That's the way dreams are achieved. Once you achieve one, another one quickly appears.

M: When I asked you that, I said "Can you imagine it?" and you thought about it and said "Yes, but-"

F: "I'm very little!"

M: Do you still feel like a little boy? Or not anymore?

F: I don't think so, I grew up very fast. I don't even feel like I'm just 21 years old.

M: When you race alongside those drivers you used to watch as a kid, as a fan...

F: It's weird, Fernando Alonso is almost twice my age so I used to watch his races when I was 8-9 years old, racing against Hamilton, fighting for titles. And suddenly, I'm racing against him, it's a bit shocking. But the truth is that when you put your helmet on and the visor is down, everyone is the same and a little of that fanaticism you had when you were a kid goes away. You want to beat them all, so that competitiveness and non-conforming attitude comes and it's like... I don't care who is next to me. Whether it's Verstappen or Zhou, it's the same. I want to win and I want to be ahead of them, as long as it is in my possibilities, if it's a Red Bull then it's obviously highly unlikely I'll beat it. But my point is that the fanaticism for those idols and heroes you had as a kid, goes a bit away and you try to respect them a little less, otherwise it's very hard to beat them if they're still your maximum idols.

M: And you are ready to be the maximum idol of someone else as well.

F: Well, no, I don't see myself like that. I just started in F1.

M: It's okay if you don't see yourself that way, it'd be strange if you did, you'd be a very arrogant person. But that's how many of us see you. We think this is just starting.

F: Of course I love that so many kids, argentinians, think of me as a reference of motorsport, that so many kids are getting into F1, into the sport, just because of what's happening now. But I still see myself as the same guy from 2 months ago that wasn't a F1 driver, that raced in F2, or even as the boy that a year ago was racing in F3 but didn't have the budget to make it to F2, so he and his team had to do crazy stuff to make it happen. And suddenly I'm in F1. Nobody was expecting it, I wasn't expecting it, I didn't know when that opportunity would come and suddenly it did. But I was ready for it, I had an amazing opportunity that I grabbed with both hands and I'm taking advantage of it.

M: And you're enjoying it.

F: I'm enjoying it so so much.

Martu, thank you for coming, it was a flashback to the past!

#i really liked this one #it's so cool they found her #context about el Flaco: one of the best argentinian drivers. he died in may 2024. franco paid tribute by putting “Traverso” on his F2 car #he won the sprint that day #last year Traverso sent Franco a video: “sending you a giant hug. take it easy. you're on your way up. i'll go to watch you race someday”#i don't mind putting subtitles to a shorter clip just let me know !!#also don't apologize i actually enjoy translating stuff 🙂‍↕️ best way to learn #franco colapinto #martina viglietti #fc43 #f1

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