‘Lewis Hamilton invited me onto his private jet – he showed his true colours’

Lewis Hamilton will soon take to Silverstone as a Ferrari driver for the first time, and one of his Formula 1 rivals has a deeper insight into the British star’s character after a private jet ride

Lewis Hamilton will soon make his British Grand Prix debut as a Ferrari driver. Fans at his home race will laud the 40-year-old, whose true character has been made crystal clear after a private jet ride with fellow Formula 1 star Franco Colapinto.

Hamilton returns to Silverstone in Scuderia red for the first time, looking to keep the momentum from a promising Austrian Grand Prix weekend. So far, the Brit and team-mate Charles Leclerc are yet to register a race win, aside from Hamilton’s sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Yet, a P4 at the Red Bull Ring is a solid foundation, and Hamilton has finished on the podium at the last 11 renewals of the British GP. When he takes to the Northamptonshire track, one star who’ll join him on the starting grid is Alpine’s Colapinto.

The young Argentine has come to the end of his five-round deal, but is all set to grace Silverstone in Alpine’s second seat. He has a unique insight into ex-Mercedes star Hamilton’s world, having taken up the offer of a private jet ride to London with him after the Spanish Grand Prix instead of flying EasyJet, and has shed light on the encounter.

“Yeah, 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,” said Colapinto after the Austrian Grand Prix.

“You all know that he was my idol since I was very young, with [Aryton] Senna as well, and to be able to fly with him and have a bit of a chat. He asked if anyone was flying to London and I said I’m going to London, but on EasyJet.

“And he came back saying he had a lot of space on his plane and invited me to go. It was quite special. Also flying private for the first time, two very unique experiences and a lot of stories from Lewis.

“A very special flight. He’s a great guy and I was very, very impressed by how he is as a person and how he is as a professional,” shared the 22-year-old.

“A lot to admire from the personal part from the sportsman. It was great, a dream come true and didn’t have to fly on my EasyJet flight.”

The seven-time F1 champion has long preferred private plane travel, and in 2013, he spent £25million on a luxury Bombardier Challenger 605 in an unmissable cheery red colourway.

However, due to environmental and financial reasons, he sold the jet in 2019, and it is assumed that the jet that he and Colapinto travelled on was rented, as Hamilton often does when making his way to and from races.

While a 10th British GP victory would be poetic for Hamilton as he makes his Silverstone bow with his new team, fellow F1 icon Damon Hill believes another Brit will steal the show in Lando Norris.

“Nigel Mansell used to say the support of a home crowd was worth a second a lap,” Hill exclusively told the Mirror. “And it definitely adds something.

“If I had to stick my neck out at Silverstone, it’s got to be Lando. It feels like this is his time. I’m sure he’ll be desperate to win it. Ferrari have a decent record in the British Grand Prix too, so you never know.”