Lewis Hamilton provided one of the most entertaining moments away from the circuit during the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix weekend after finally accepting Franco Colapinto’s invitation to try mate, the traditional Argentine drink. The Ferrari driver sampled the infusion during a Formula 1 fan event at Interlagos, before making a comment that left the Alpine youngster laughing in front of a large crowd.
The exchange took place on Saturday morning, ahead of qualifying, when Ferrari and Alpine appeared together in the São Paulo fan zone. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc represented the Italian team, while Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly joined them on stage. However, it was an unexpected cultural exchange between the seven-time world champion and the Argentine driver that became one of the highlights of the appearance.
Lewis Hamilton finally tries Franco Colapinto’s mate at Interlagos
Franco Colapinto arrived at the event carrying his familiar thermos flask and mate gourd, accessories that have become almost inseparable from his appearances around the Formula 1 paddock.
The drink, prepared using yerba mate leaves and hot water, is particularly popular in Argentina and neighbouring South American countries. It is traditionally consumed through a metal straw known as a bombilla and is frequently shared among friends.
For Lewis Hamilton, the experience was not entirely unexpected. During the previous Formula 1 weekend in Mexico, the Ferrari driver had already shown curiosity about the drink and asked Franco Colapinto how it was prepared.
At Interlagos, the Argentine finally had the opportunity to introduce him to the tradition properly.
While their fellow drivers were participating in the fan event, Franco Colapinto prepared the mate and offered it to Lewis Hamilton. The British driver accepted, took a small sip and subsequently made a remark to the Alpine driver.
Although the precise words exchanged privately between the two were not audible, Franco Colapinto immediately burst into laughter. Lewis Hamilton also compared the taste of mate to tea, a particularly fitting reference given the drink’s similarities to a herbal infusion.
The moment quickly attracted attention among supporters, with recordings of the interaction circulating across social media.
Franco Colapinto helps Ferrari driver back onto the stage
The mate exchange was not the only light-hearted interaction between Lewis Hamilton and Franco Colapinto during the appearance.
At one point, the Ferrari driver stepped down from the stage to greet a young supporter. When he returned, Franco Colapinto helped him climb back up, another small gesture that reflected the relaxed atmosphere between the two competitors.
Despite representing different teams and competing against each other on track, the drivers appeared comfortable joking together throughout the event.
Their interaction also demonstrated the increasingly international character of Formula 1’s fan activities. With Ferrari’s seven-time world champion sharing a traditional Argentine drink in front of Brazilian Grand Prix spectators, the moment brought together several different cultures within the same paddock encounter.
Argentine supporters give Franco Colapinto a huge welcome in Brazil
Franco Colapinto’s appearance attracted particularly enthusiastic support from the Argentine fans who had travelled to São Paulo for the Grand Prix.
Supporters repeatedly chanted his name as he stood alongside Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, creating a lively atmosphere around the fan stage.
The Alpine driver took the opportunity to thank those who had made the journey to Interlagos, acknowledging the effort involved in travelling to support him during the Formula 1 weekend.
For Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, the brief encounter provided a welcome change of pace before returning to Ferrari’s preparations for qualifying. The competitive demands of Formula 1 would soon take centre stage again, but the seven-time champion had already experienced something new thanks to his Argentine colleague.
And for Franco Colapinto, persuading one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history to try mate represented another amusing moment in his growing relationship with the wider paddock.
The exchange offered a reminder that, beyond the intense competition and pressure of Grand Prix weekends, Formula 1 can still produce spontaneous moments of friendship and humour between drivers from very different backgrounds.
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