Franco Colapinto names F1 driver who sent him the first message after his Williams promotion

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After the excitement of making his Formula 1 debut at Monza, Franco Colapinto faces the next challenge in his burgeoning career.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a mix of intricate street track with one of the longest straights in motor racing.

It makes setting up a car tricky and Franco Colapinto and any of the other 19 cars on the grid will be punished for making even the smallest mistake.

The young Argentinian dipped the wheels of his Williams into the gravel on several push laps at Monza but he won’t be afforded that luxury in Baku where even some of the best drivers in F1 have found the barriers.

Talking about his introduction to the sport during the pre-race press conference, Colapinto was asked about the advice he had been given before his debut.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Williams driver Franco Colapinto with praise to stats

Typically, rookies get a winter to build up experience in the simulator and previous models of F1 cars before going out on track for the first time.

Kimi Antonelli, for example, has done thousands of kilometres of running in the 2021 and 2022 Mercedes F1 cars and now has a brief FP1 session under his belt before making his debut next year.

Oliver Bearman will run in his second Grand Prix this weekend ahead of starting full-time with Haas in 2025.

Colapinto didn’t have that luxury but has shared that Lando Norris immediately messaged him after the announcement and several other drivers gave him some friendly advice before his first race.

Lando Norris sent Franco Colapinto his first message before the Italian Grand Prix

Asked if he received any messages or advice before his first race, Colapinto said: “Yeah I did, actually the first message I received was from Lando as soon as it got announced!

“He just won the race before and he sent me a message so he was very nice, very polite.

“And I was speaking in the driver’s parade later with the guys, Charles, Lando and Alex and they were helping me with some tips and some things to be aware of.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from height and parents to celebration

“Some things that I had been struggling [with] that they helped [with].

“But it is very difficult until you drive the car, they told me before going into a Formula 1 car it’s very tough on the brakes, it’s impressive how much acceleration the car has.

“The power, how quick it is in the entry of the corners and you can imagine it but until you drive it, you don’t really realise, you don’t get the feeling of how it is.

“It’s amazing, it’s the same in the races, you have to do it to understand some things.

“Even if they tell you it’s like this, I get it, but until I do it’s difficult to feel it and there have been a lot of drivers who have been very nice and helpful. I think it’s a great community in F1.”

Franco Colapinto warned he may need security at an upcoming race

Colapinto’s arrival in Formula 1 has proven to be extremely popular in his native Argentina.

The country is motorsport-mad but has had to wait more than two decades to see one of its drivers on the F1 grid.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship

Colapinto has been warned he may need security in Brazil due to the number of Argentinian fans that might head to Interlagos.

Buenos Aires hasn’t hosted a race in some time but Colapinto could find a permanent seat on the grid then F1 may have to consider it.

Zandvoort is only on the calendar because of Max Verstappen and while Colapinto is a long way off having that sort of sway, it’s something for the 21-year-old to aspire to if and when he’s back on the grid after this season.