Franco Colapinto on adjusting to fame and deleting social media

Less than three months after Franco Colapinto was called up to Formula 1 by Williams mid-season, the 21-year-old’s life has turned on its head. The Argentinian driver has amassed more than four million Instagram followers and is a bonafide sporting sensation in South America. It’s the kind of fame usually reserved for the likes of Lionel Messi — and Colapinto is finally adjusting to it. 

“Well, it’s a very strange thing,” he said of his newfound celebrity while speaking to Motorsport at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “I deleted Twitter [X],” he went on. “I think it’s very toxic. And whatever you do, it has a very big impact. They [the fans] take news from from every little thing that you are doing. So that’s something you have to understand, but it’s part of the job.” 

He continued, “In my case, it helps to not get so distracted [by social media] because it’s not very useful. It’s very easy for people to go online and start spreading some … not so nice things.” His comments came just a couple of days before Lewis Hamilton issued a warning to the sport’s young drivers about the perils of social media. 

Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“Don’t let the negativity get to you because people are so negative nowadays judging you non-stop,” he told reporters when asked what advice he’d issue to the incoming class of rookies. “So stay off social media and keep your family and your closest friends close to you because they’re your only true friends who are going to be there for you when the going gets tough.” 

He also urged the youngsters not to allow themselves to be taken advantage of. “Don’t do absolutely everything that everybody tells you to do, ask lots of questions, and take your time,” he said. “I remember when I was 22 and thrown in the deep end … you’re trying to be nice but people take advantage of you.”

Hamilton continued, “If I had a young driver and I was looking after him, I’d put a lot of support around him so that people couldn’t get to him and the social media stuff wouldn’t be able to affect them. It’s about not knocking them down when they make mistakes … when you do it [make mistakes] in the spotlight it’s really tough, so we need to lift them up and continue to support them.” 

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