(Motorsport-Total.com) – Die-hard Formula 1 fans will probably see it differently, but the Belgian Grand Prix (here in the live ticker!) is unlikely to be the sporting highlight of the weekend: because on Sunday evening (9 p.m. German time) the final of the 2026 Football World Cup will take place.
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In the final, Argentina and Spain will meet – a duel that Alpine driver Franco Colapinto and the two Spaniards Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) are particularly looking forward to. “I will definitely be much more nervous during the game than during the race,” jokes Colapinto.
The Argentinian has already had to endure several nerve-wracking tests this year: his team was two goals down against Egypt at one point, and they only managed to turn the semi-final against England around in the final phase. “In the last 20 minutes, they played really well,” says the Alpine driver.
“We were a mix of Spaniards and Italians. My Italian engineer from Formula 2 was there,” reveals the 23-year-old, describing how he watched the semi-final last Wednesday. “And many people supported Argentina. That was nice to see.”
Colapinto expects “pretty funny” football match
“We had a lot of fun. We also cheered a lot – and suffered. But if you don’t suffer a little, you’re not Argentinian. It was one of those games where you’re really nervous. But in the end, you celebrate all the more. So it was a long night, but I’m very happy.”
Will the Argentinian also experience this happiness on the night from Sunday to Monday? “Spain – we are both Latin Americans. We speak the same language,” reminds Colapinto, who expects a heated game: “They will understand what insults they throw at each other. So that will be pretty funny.”
“Hopefully it will be a really good game. I feel like you can be proud of this game: Argentina and Spain are in the final, two Latin American countries. They have left France and England behind. It’s the best final you could wish for. I’m happy.”
Fernando Alonso believes in “close affair”
The two Spanish regular drivers in the current Formula 1 field, however, are much more relaxed. “I’ve watched most of the games – sometimes not the second half, though, because I had other commitments at home,” says Alonso, who became a father for the first time a few weeks ago.
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“Like all Spaniards, we follow the team, support them from afar and give them strength and energy when they need it. They know that the whole country is behind them.” However, “La Furia Roja” will have to do without the support of the two-time world champion on Sunday evening.
“It’s going to be a bit tricky because we’re flying home. So maybe I’ll manage to watch the second half again,” says Alonso, who doesn’t want to commit to a prediction for the 2026 World Cup final: “I think it will be a close affair. But of course, we all hope that Spain wins.”
Carlos Sainz: Five days later it doesn’t matter anyway
Carlos Sainz sees it the same way: “I think Spain is playing really well,” praises the Williams driver. “Purely in terms of football, we’re playing the best football, but Argentina has a strong attack. And it’s a World Cup – football is football. Let’s see, I think it will be a tough fight.”
Will Sainz at least be able to cheer on his team? “My flight leaves at 9 p.m., so probably not,” reveals the 31-year-old. “But I hope the plane has Wi-Fi and I can watch – or at least see the second half or something.”
“Maybe I can move it forward by half an hour, but I’m flying with Charles Leclerc, and the Ferrari meetings take a long time, especially if you win or get on the podium. The return then takes longer, so I’ll probably have to negotiate there.”
In the end, it won’t make a big difference who wins the game and gets to lift the World Cup trophy. “On the day itself, it’s very important to you,” says Sainz with a grin, “but five days later you think: ‘Oh well, whatever.'”
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