At 21, the upstart Argentine driver Franco Colapinto is turning heads in Formula 1, where he has been dubbed a 'tiny champion' by the seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, ahead of his Interlagos Senna tribute run.
He's only 21, yet Franco Colapinto made quite an impression on his first Formula 1 season. His speed is astonishing, his precision exquisite, and his quiet tactical savviness is more than mature for anybody, let alone a kid who hasn't even touched the legal drinking age yet - no driver below 18 has ever been allowed to compete in a Formula 1 car. And Colapinto's entry in F1 marks the first time that there's an Argentinian driver in the pinnacle of the sport, a feat. This milestone is a source of pride for Argentina and its motorsport fans. The talent frightens some of the living legends - and rightfully so. Analyze his driving on only his fifth race, and it's relatively easy to determine where the accolades come from.
The journey of the Argentinian driver is genuinely one for the books. Growing up in a country that once celebrated F1 legends like the great Juan Manuel Fangio, many fans were left wanting, hoping for a new hero to emerge in Formula 1. Then came Colapinto, who began his climb from karting to the pinnacle of motorsport. It hasn't been an easy road for him. He has faced his fair share of personal challenges and setbacks, but his determination and resilience have shone through everything. His story is relatable to anyone who has faced struggles but has refused to quit. In Argentina, where hope for a podium finish seemed lost, Colapinto's rise has rekindled that spirit and excitement, giving fans something to cheer for again.
The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, another big F1 favorite of the Brazilian fans, took time during the post-race debrief at the São Paulo Grand Prix to comment on the book, highlighting how it had made him think about the art of smooth, high-speed driving. There is no doubting the Englishman's reverence for Colapinto - how he admires his total adaptability. 'He's shown incredible poise being out there with the boys. People in Formula 1 have had the same car for a long time and have been driving for 20 or 30 years. So it's incredible to be out there with them,' said Hamilton when asked about his thoughts on the book at the Qatar Grand Prix in November. 'I had chills reading Apex... This kid is going to have a great career in F1. I hope he gets to the grid next year. I strongly doubt Williams has settled on the driver line-up, but I hope this kid gets there.' Hamilton has always been a supporter of youngsters who come into F1. In the past, he literally took preferment on determining who should be given the odd test seat available at Mercedes, and he has often been a kind of mentor to the drivers who emerged. He is open about hoping Colapinto will find a place on the F1 grid next season.
'There's really been no one to go in as quick as he did, really two or three weeks in the car - no real testing, nothing - he just picked it up ... you wouldn't even get a normal driver in the car in the time he had, and he's done an amazing job.' Hamilton praises Colapinto as noteworthy - the British driver is always the first to champion young talent and works tirelessly as a young driver mentor and role model. Hamilton says openly that he wants Colapinto on the grid next season. However, Williams is not expected to make certainties in their driver line-up for some time.
He even announced a demonstration run that weekend - with the same McLaren MP4/5B that Ayrton Senna drove to his second world championship - that will remind Brazil exactly where he belongs: Interlagos, where Senna is an idol. The McLaren MP4/5 B is a legendary car in F1 history. This dedication of McLaren would no doubt be a powerful reminder, not just of Senna, an icon of Argentina, but of what is possible in F1, even for a driver from a country without much of an automotive industry, to back its way toward the top. For Hamilton, Senna's legacy is Roman Polanski, the great escape. It is passion and skill, and it adds some grit.
For Colapinto, Hamilton's homage to Senna is a call to his profession to remember what is still possible in the F1 paddock, even for a driver from one of racing's historical second-tier countries. Senna is a national hero in Brazil, and in Argentina - Fangio's adopted country - he means a great deal to motorsport enthusiasts. It is one thing for an Argentine driver to have Senna remembered by one of the world's most renowned drivers in the context of this national and transnational pantheon and for Colapinto's skill, if it develops, to be placed in that same trajectory as Senna, Fangio or others.
That is not to say that Colapinto's road is smooth. F1 is a sport with minimal seats, fierce competition, and complicated funding. Regardless of Hamilton's support, Colapinto must earn it on track and procure it off it. Williams is a legendary team within F1, but its financial issues are only part of the drama - they don't know who their drivers will be next year. Colapinto is not fazed - his autopilot mind has long since been forged on tracks far from Silverstone. He will need the support of sponsors and spectators alike, and I hope that Argentina gets behind him.
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If Colapinto secures that spot, his success could reignite a love of motorsport in the country, bring Argentina back onto the racing map, and stand to attract more talent from Latin America because of his presence in the world's most-watched motorsport event. His success could motivate a generation of young Argentines to consider a career in racing and other motorsport fields, such as engineering and related industries. This potential impact on Argentina's motorsport legacy is a reason for hope and excitement.