After the F1 Spanish Grand Prix, Franco Colapinto received an unexpected invitation from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to join him on a private jet flight back to London. This remarkable gesture occurred shortly after the Barcelona race, when Hamilton offered a free seat on his plane to any driver traveling to London.

Lewis Hamilton Extends Private Jet Invitation to Colapinto

Following the Spanish GP, Hamilton posted a message in the F1 drivers’ WhatsApp group, offering a return flight to London on his private jet. Upon expressing his travel plans to London, Colapinto was advised by Hamilton to cancel his commercial flight and instead accompany him. This invitation came as a surprise and delight to the Argentine driver.

Colapinto described the experience as

“the best flight of my life,”

highlighting the uniqueness of flying privately alongside one of his biggest racing heroes. Speaking to media at the Austrian Grand Prix, he explained,

“Lewis is a great guy and I had the best flight of my life with him. It was very special and very unique.”

He reflected on the significance of the moment, sharing that Hamilton had been his idol since his youth, alongside Ayrton Senna. The opportunity to chat with Hamilton during the flight made the trip even more memorable. Colapinto recalled,

“He asked if anyone was flying to London and I said I’m going to London but on EasyJet and he came back saying he had a lot of space on his plane and invited me to go.”

This was Colapinto’s first experience flying privately, adding a special personal milestone to an already extraordinary meeting. He also appreciated hearing stories from Hamilton, calling the journey “a very special flight.”

On Hamilton’s character, Colapinto remarked,

“He’s a great guy and I was very, very impressed by how he is as a person and how he is as a professional. A lot to admire from the personal part from the sportsman. It was great, a dream come true and didn’t have to fly on my EasyJet flight.”

Colapinto’s Progress and Mindset Going Into Canadian and Austrian Grands Prix

Apart from this memorable flight, Colapinto is focused on improving his performance with Alpine after a challenging start to the 2025 season. Leading into the Canadian Grand Prix, there were reports suggesting he needed to secure his future in F1 by enhancing his results. Despite not scoring points, Colapinto delivered his best qualifying effort so far, starting tenth, and believes he made valuable progress.

Reflecting on his performance in Montreal, he shared,

“Canada was definitely a good step. We’ve been working hard in the team to try and understand which direction I had to go with the car, which direction was making me more comfortable with the setup.”

He emphasized the collaborative effort from his team, noting the support he received to regain his pace even when facing difficulties. Colapinto stated that he feels increasingly comfortable and connected to the car, which fills him with optimism. He added,

“At the end of the day we are just trying to focus race by race and just trying to go step by step, then we’ll see what happens. Here in Austria I think there is a good chance for us as a team to perform and maximise the car and then see where we end up.”

When asked about dealing with pressure, Colapinto expressed a grounded perspective, explaining it as routine in Formula 1:

“No, just normal, like every F1 race, that’s what we live with, we are used to that and it’s just another weekend of those.”

He gave further insight on his mindset, saying,

“I think having the feeling that I’m starting to feel better with the car is something positive to me, something that makes me feel a little bit more, I wouldn’t say relaxed, but more happy in terms of just feeling more connected with the car and understanding better things that I couldn’t understand before.”

Looking Ahead: What Colapinto’s Development Means for Alpine

Colapinto’s renewed connection with his car and improved performances suggest positive momentum for both the driver and Alpine. With promising prospects at the Austrian Grand Prix, he and his team aim to maximize their potential and gain valuable results in the upcoming races. This journey reflects his resilience and steady growth within the team despite early challenges.

Meanwhile, the memorable private jet flight with Lewis Hamilton adds a personal highlight to Colapinto’s season, symbolizing admiration between new and established stars in the sport. Such moments of camaraderie and encouragement among drivers can boost confidence and provide memorable experiences beyond the track.