Sawt Falasteen - Argentina's Colapinto more nervous about World Cup final than F1 race

The only Argentine driver on the grid, Colapinto wore a Lionel Messi football shirt on arrival in the paddock on Thursday and spoke enthusiastically about Argentina's 2-1 semifinal victory over England.

"We hadn't played England for a very long time and we're just really happy that we took the win," he said. "Happy for the team, happy for Messi -- and I'm very proud of my country."

The 23-year-old Buenos Aires-born driver said Argentina's win meant a great deal to him.

"This is the kind of match that really shows why Argentina is one of the biggest teams in the history of football. It's the same as the match of 1986," he said.

"It is in the important matches that you show what you are made of and why we are ahead of teams like England and other countries.

"I'm very happy to be Argentinian and of course, they have done an amazing job and an amazing World Cup."

He added that he admired the team's resilience. "They didn't give up in tricky moments and until it’s over, it isn't over!"

On Sunday's final against Spain, he said: "It will be tricky. I am definitely going to be much more nervous about the match than the race – it's a match to be proud of – two Latino countries, leaving out France and England. The best final we could have asked for!"

World championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped the times for Mercedes ahead of defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren in Friday's second free practice.

J.Saleh--SF-PST