Franco Colapinto will drive through the streets of Buenos Aires in his Alpine F1 car

Buenos Aires is preparing for an unprecedented spectacle. Ahead of Sunday’s main event, the iconic Obelisk was chosen as the stage to unveil the Formula 1 car Franco Colapinto will drive on a street circuit set up in Palermo

Buenos Aires is preparing for an unprecedented spectacle. Ahead of Sunday’s main event, the iconic Obelisk was chosen as the stage to unveil the Formula 1 car Franco Colapinto will drive on a street circuit set up in Palermo, in what is already shaping up to be a global show.

The car in question is a 2012 Lotus E20, powered by a Renault V8 engine and adapted with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team livery. The exhibition marks Formula 1’s return to the streets of Buenos Aires after 14 years, but it represents something more: the arrival of a new generation of Argentine talent on the international stage.

Colapinto set to make history on Palermo street circuit

This Sunday, April 26, Colapinto will become the first Argentine driver to take a Formula 1 car onto the city’s urban asphalt.

The schedule includes multiple runs on the street circuit at 12:45 PM, 2:30 PM, 3:15 PM, and a closing appearance at 3:55 PM aboard an open-top bus, in a day that blends speed, entertainment and urban spectacle.

The route covers iconic Palermo landmarks, from Avenida del Libertador and Sinclair to Casares/Ugarteche, including part of Avenida Sarmiento and passing the Monument to the Spaniards.

With an estimated crowd of half a million people, the circuit was extended by 900 meters to improve crowd flow and ensure safety.

A global show beyond motorsport

The event begins at 9 a.m. with free access for residents and tourists, and includes a broader entertainment experience featuring stages at Plaza Seeber and Plaza Sicilia, giant screens, live DJs and a performance by the City Symphony Orchestra starting at 11.

Everything is designed as an immersive experience that goes beyond motorsport.

Buenos Aires Mayor Jorge Macri has highlighted the symbolic value of the event: putting the city back on the Formula 1 map and projecting it toward the future.

Logistics — including security, road closures and emergency services — are being handled by the city government, while Colapinto’s sponsors support much of the funding.

Buenos Aires returns to the Formula 1 spotlight

At the same time, speculation continues over the possible appearance of other historic cars, including a 1996 Benetton, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

What is clear is that the technical team on-site belongs to Alpine’s exhibition division, specialized in road shows rather than official competition.

The last time an F1 car ran in Buenos Aires was in 2011, when Daniel Ricciardo drove the Red Bull RB7 celebrating Sebastian Vettel’s title.

This time, the difference is significant: an Argentine driver at the wheel, a city fully embracing the event, and a narrative aimed directly at an international audience.

With grandstand tickets sold out in presale (20,000 spectators) and expectations surging, Buenos Aires becomes the world capital of motorsport for a day.

And for audiences in the United States, the message is clear: the Colapinto phenomenon is not only local — it is global.