Franco Colapinto is off to a dream start in his Formula 1 career. The Argentine has been driving for Williams since the Italian Grand Prix and has already scored valuable points for the team in two races. Rubens Barrichello, a former Ferrari driver, warns Colapinto of potential challenges ahead.
Colapinto has made quite an impression during his short time in Formula 1. However, things went awry for the young driver in Brazil when he crashed in the rain behind the safety car. It was the first blemish on the Argentine’s record. Former driver Rubens Barrichello warns Colapinto that such mistakes could erode the support of his South American fans.
“In the Brazilian media, it’s a bit like, ‘Oh yes, let’s support him’, but the first time you do something wrong, they criticize you,” the former Ferrari driver shares in the Beyond the Grid podcast. Barrichello, therefore, has some advice for the young driver. “So you must be at peace with yourself.”
‘Respect is Essential When You Venture into the Sea’
Barrichello, during his Formula 1 career as a Brazilian driver, also faced similar pressure to Colapinto. The Brazilian was Michael Schumacher’s teammate for five years. The former driver candidly admits that he never truly learned to cope with the pressure. “I never managed it,” Barrichello confesses. “I never got on top of it.”
However, Barrichello sees some benefits in his inability to fully handle the pressure. “It’s good to have some fear. My father always said, ‘when you go to the sea, you must have respect. Don’t go if you can’t touch the bottom, because it can take you away’. So, you should have a bit of fear to be able to respect it.
