La Derecha Diario The harsh criticism from a former Formula 1 driver toward Franco Colapinto: 'He lost his mind'
Nelson Piquet Jr. questioned the mentality of the Argentine driver and compared him to figures who failed to establish themselves
Franco Colapinto, the 22-year-old Argentine driver, who is emerging as one of the most promising talents in Formula 1, received unexpected criticism ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
On the motorsport podcast Pelas Pistas, former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. expressed doubts about the Alpine driver's mental strength and made a forceful statement: "It seems like Colapinto has lost his mind."
The Brazilian, son of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet, argued that talent alone doesn't guarantee success in elite motorsport. "He's not slow, he's not stupid, but something messes with his head. There comes a point when the strongest, most aggressive, and most confident minds are the ones that succeed," he stated while analyzing the performance of the young man from Pilar, who will race his fourth event with the French team next weekend.
Piquet Jr. compared Colapinto's situation to that of Australian Daniel Ricciardo, another driver whom he praised for his skill, but pointed out for his alleged lack of sustained competitive mentality. "Ricciardo also has talent, but he never found the psychological balance to stay at the highest level," the expert recalled, drawing an analogy between the two stars.
The Brazilian went further and highlighted a difference among the established names in the paddock. "What sets Hamilton, Alonso, or Verstappen apart isn't just their technical ability. It's their mentality. That's what makes them unbeatable," he said, praising the top champions of this era.
Nelson Piquet Jr., known simply as "Nelsinho," began his career in karting at eight years old in Brazil, and gained notoriety in 2002 by becoming champion of the South American Formula 3. Throughout his career, he accumulated experience in various categories and shared the track with figures like Lewis Hamilton in the GP2 Series.
The Brazilian's statements come at a key moment for Colapinto, who is seeking to establish himself in the Formula 1 environment after his debut with Alpine. Meanwhile, as expectations grow for his performance at Montreal's Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, media pressure adds a new chapter.
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