Rubens Barrichello cautions Franco Colapinto: Argentina’s support is passionate but relentless; one mistake could shift the narrative.
Rubens Barrichello warned Franco Colapinto that he must be “at peace” with himself, as a single misstep could quickly shift the tone surrounding the current hype around him.
Colapinto stepped into the Williams F1 seat at the Italian Grand Prix when the 21-year-old was called up to replace Logan Sargeant, who was dropped. It was a surprising choice, but what followed was equally unexpected, with stellar performances that impressed team principal James Vowles and the entire paddock.
The Argentine has since become highly sought-after, with rumors linking him to Red Bull or even Alpine F1 for 2025.
Unfortunately, he failed to shine in the rain in Brazil, crashing behind the safety car—his first race accident in his short Formula 1 career. Barrichello believes this incident could see the admiration turn into criticism, something Colapinto must be ready for.
“You can see Argentina fully behind Colapinto now. We’ve seen his fans everywhere—they flooded the flights to Brazil, giving him massive support.”
“Okay, let’s look at the next step. Let’s see how this kid handles himself and how the fans respond. Because in Brazil, the media is a bit like, ‘Oh yes, let’s support him,’ but the moment you make a mistake, they tear you down. And I know in Argentina, they don’t forgive much, not more than in my country.”
“You need to be at peace with yourself and ready to face that, bouncing back quickly from any slip-ups.”
Barrichello himself faced similar pressures during his Formula 1 career as a Brazilian driver. He admits it’s something he never fully overcame.
“I never managed to. I never completely overcame that 100%. It’s strange to say, but I never really got over the public pressure.”
“And it’s good to still fear something. My father always said: ‘If you go to the sea, you must respect it. Don’t go where you can’t touch the bottom, because it can take you.’
“You need a bit of fear to show respect. So I never got the better of the Brazilians, because Brazil’s public is different.”
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Barrichello Warns Rising Star Colapinto Barrichello Warns Rising Star Colapinto
