Franco Colapinto explains kind Lewis Hamilton easyJet gesture

Franco Colapinto has explained how Lewis Hamilton made him miss his easyJet flight back to Britain, but for a good reason. 

After the Spanish GP in Barcelona, Hamilton was flying to the UK, and asked in the F1 drivers' WhatsApp group if anyone else was travelling to Britain.

Colapinto confirmed that he was, but was booked on a commercial easyJet flight from El Prat airport - something Hamilton quickly told him to cancel, leading to the "best flight of my life," as the Argentine Alpine driver explained.

"It was nice, Lewis is a great guy and I had the best flight of my life with him, it was very special and very unique," Colapinto explained to media, including RacingNews365. 

"He's been my idol since I was very young, with [Ayrton] Senna as well, and I was able to fly with him and have a bit of a chat.

"He asked if anyone was flying back to London, I said I was but flying on easyJet so I cannot help you, and he came back saying he had a lot of space and he invited me to go.

"It was quite special, flying privately for the first time, so two very unique experiences and a lot of stories from a very special flight.

"He is a great guy, and I was very impressed by how he is as a person and how he is as a professional. 

"There was a lot to admire from the person away from the sportsman, and it was a dream come true, and in the end, I didn't have to take my easyJet flight."

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Colapinto's five-race audition

Colapinto is at the final race of his initial five-race audition with Alpine, but appeared to make a breakthrough in Canada, out-qualifying Pierre Gasly for the first time and starting 10th after penalties. 

He feels he is finally getting to grips with the A525 machine underneath him.

"I think I am starting to have a better feeling with the car, it is something positive to me and something which makes me feel a bit more relaxed," he said.

"But also happier in terms of just feeling connected in the car and understanding things better that I couldn't understand before."