Williams star Franco Colapinto gets hero Lewis Hamilton’s approval - “He’s earned his right to be here”

Williams F1 driver Franco Colapinto received high praise from his idol, Lewis Hamilton, ahead of the Brazilian GP. Hamilton lauded Colapinto's "incredible" effort, having earned the call for his F1 debut midway through the season.

Colapinto was brought in to replace Logan Sargeant following the Dutch GP and made his debut in the Italian GP, securing a 12th-place finish on his debut. He scored his first points in just his second race, finishing eighth in Azerbaijan, and added another points-paying finish in Austin, where he was classified 10th.

Colapinto and Hamilton were scheduled for a joint appearance at the FIA press conference on Thursday ahead of the Brazilian GP. During the session, the seven-time champion commended the 21-year-old’s impressive cameo performance. He also suggested the young Argentinian had truly earned his spot on the grid.

"I think he's done an incredible job, to be called upon last minute and thrown in the deep end. He just jumped in and did a fantastic job. I think he's earned his right to be here," he said.

Colapinto doesn't have a seat lined up for 2025, as Williams has already signed Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. His options are limited, as he made his F1 debut late in the silly season. Sauber has yet to announce its driver lineup, however, and Valtteri Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto are in the running for the available seat.

Red Bull has expressed interest in Colapinto, as it is uncertain whether Liam Lawson will drive for VCARB or the senior team next year. Christian Horner has also confirmed that the team is assessing the Williams driver's availability for 2025.

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Franco Colapinto reflects on racing Lewis Hamilton

Franco Colapinto relished his opportunity to race alongside Lewis Hamilton during the Azerbaijan GP when the veteran Mercedes driver was rallying through the field having started the race from the pitlane.

Colapinto was thrilled to compete against his childhood hero, sharing that the prospect of defending his position against the seven-time champion provided him with a much-needed boost. He also reminisced about their interaction after the race.

"It was a very nice experience, of course, to be fighting with one of your heroes when you were younger, it's something very special. And I did enjoy it a lot. After the race he came and congratulated me and I respected it a lot. And it was just very nice to see how open he was, how he respected young drivers. And it's something very special for anyone in motorsports I think," he said on the Fast and the Curious podcast. [from 13

Colapinto has four race weekends to build on his impressive start to his F1 career, including two sprint weekends in Brazil and Qatar. The Brazilian GP weekend is scheduled for November 1-3.