Franco Colapinto Apologizes for Calling Uruguay an Argentine Province

A 21-year-old Argentine Formula 1 driver and reserve pilot for the French team Alpine, **[Franco Colapinto](https://www.championat.com/auto/news-5966058-pilot-formuly-1-kolapinto-urugvaj-eto-provinciya-argentiny-kavani-uzhe-stal-argentincem.html)**, has apologized for referring to Uruguay as a province of Argentina.

«I want to sincerely apologize for the foolish comments I made about Uruguay. Clearly, it was meant as a joke… it was part of a fun podcast with friends! Sometimes, I struggle to grasp how the silly things I say in public can affect others.

I never intended to offend anyone; they were teasing me about my Italian citizenship, and I decided to get back at them… I hold a deep appreciation for Uruguay and the kindness the Uruguayan people showed me last year in Formula 1. Above all, I hope to maintain good relations with everyone,» Colapinto posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).