Franco Colapinto revealed that Lando Norris was the first Formula 1 driver to message him upon the news that he would be making his debut at the Italian Grand Prix.
Williams opted to make a change to its driver line-up prior to the weekend at Monza as Colapinto was selected to replace Logan Sargeant across the remaining races.
The Argentine, who has been associated with Williams since last January, resided in sixth place in his maiden Formula 2 campaign with one win before his F1 call-up.
Asked whether he had received messages containing advice from the permanent F1 crop, Colapinto divulged that McLaren’s Norris was the first driver to get in touch.
“Actually, the first message I received was from Lando as soon as it got announced,” Colapinto disclosed.
“He just won the race before [in Zandvoort] and he sent me a message, so he was very nice, very polite.”
Lando Norris not alone in offering Franco Colapinto advice
Colapinto also leaned on Williams team-mate Alex Albon and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who won at Monza, to obtain added guidance as he prepared for his F1 debut.
“I’ve been speaking in the Drivers’ Parade with Charles, Lando, Alex, and they have been giving me some tips and some things to be aware of,” he continued.
“Some things I’ve been struggling that they have helped, but it is very difficult, you know.
“Until you don’t drive the car, it’s like… They told me before driving the Formula 1 car, it’s very tough on the brakes, it’s impressive how much acceleration it has.
“Then the power, how quick it is in the entry of the corners. And you can imagine it, but until you don’t drive it, you don’t really realise, you don’t get the feeling of how it is.
“It’s amazing, it’s the same on the races. You have to do it to understand some things.
“Even if they tell you, it’s like, ‘yeah, yeah, I get it’, but until I don’t do it, it’s difficult to feel it.
“There have been a lot of drivers, you know, they are very nice and helpful. I think it’s a great community in F1 and it’s the best drivers in the world.”
Franco Colapinto impressed upon F1 debut
Despite rueing an error that cost him a position in Q2, Colapinto produced an impressive maiden appearance as he climbed up six spots to come home in 12th place.
Colapinto has never driven a lap at the Baku City Circuit, the venue for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but he intends to adopt the same approach as in Monza.
“The goal is to build up slowly,” he explained. “I think it’s very similar to Monza. Monza, I didn’t know the car, now I don’t know the track, so it’s still one thing to learn only.
“As Oli [Oliver Bearman] said before, three FPs is more than enough, I think, for us to learn the track.
“I haven’t been in many street tracks, but I hope to have done enough prep in the simulator and to have worked really hard with the team to be on the pace quick.
“The reality is that I don’t know the next seven races, and we know that it’s going to be tough, and it was part of the risk, and it’s going to be a great experience.
“So, I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m doing a lot of work and a lot of prep to be ready for it.
“Of course, I think we have a really good car to be able to score points, and I’m going to try to do the best I can.
“I think it’s go step by step, session by session, and then see where we end up.”
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