Franco Colapinto opened up about an unpleasant ordeal during Formula 1’s summer shutdown, revealing that he fell victim to a car break-in while dining out in Milan, Italy. Speaking in the paddock at Circuit Zandvoort, the Alpine driver detailed how thieves smashed his car windows and cleared out his belongings, clothes, money, and official documents.
Recounting the story with a sense of humor, Colapinto explained that he had parked the car outside a favorite local spot before returning to find the vehicle completely emptied.
“They took everything from me. I wish they’d only taken the mate, but they took everything: wallet, passport, all my clothes. It was a complete disaster. I was left with nothing in Milan,” Colapinto recalled in an interview with ESPN.
“I left everything in the car. I went to eat at an Italian restaurant I really like—they have the best carbonara. And when I came back, there was nothing left inside. Nothing,” he continued.
After filing a report with local police, the Argentine drove back to his base in Monaco. Shortly after arriving in the Principality, he received an unexpected phone call from an Italian number.
“We filed a police report and went back to Monaco. When I got to Monaco, I got a call. A +39 number popped up on the phone, an Italian number. They told me: ‘We found the wallet with the documents.’ I drove back to Milan and got everything back. I drove 1,200 km in a single day. I’ve never spent so much money on petrol in my life,” he joked.
Despite recovering his essential identification, Colapinto laughed off the loss of a few irreplaceable personal items.
“I don’t know what they did with the mate and the thermos. Messi’s thermos! The mate was incredible, I loved that mate. It was the worst day of my life. A complete tragedy!” Colapinto laughed.
Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort with Saturday’s Sprint race, followed by main Qualifying for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our news page.
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Sprint Race | Saturday, August 22 – 12:00 | 10:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, August 22 – 16:00 | 14:00 |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States
- United States (Eastern Time / ET)
- Broadcaster: Apple TV
- Sprint Race: Saturday, August 22 – 06:00 ET
- Qualifying: Saturday, August 22 – 10:00 ET
- Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. What happened to Franco Colapinto during the summer break?
Thieves broke into Colapinto’s car while he was at a restaurant in Milan, stealing his wallet, passport, clothes, and personal items.
2. Did Colapinto recover his stolen belongings?
Italian authorities located his wallet and documents, allowing him to drive back to Milan and retrieve his papers.
3. Which team does Franco Colapinto race for in 2026?
Franco Colapinto drives for Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly in the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.
