WATCH: Lewis Hamilton's hilarious 'Rohit Sharma' moment as he forgot fellow driver's name

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has long been admired not just for his skill behind the wheel but also for his sportsmanship. However, after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he had a lighthearted moment that drew comparisons to Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma. The humorous incident occurred when Hamilton, despite his best intentions, forgot the name of fellow driver Franco Colapinto while praising young talent.

Hamilton, who finished ninth in the race, found himself sandwiched between two rising stars: Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto. Both young drivers were participating in just their second Formula 1 race, and their performances were commendable, especially on Baku's challenging street circuit. Colapinto, driving for Williams, finished eighth, while Bearman, representing Haas, secured 10th place, just a second behind Hamilton.

Here is Lewis Hamilton’s comments:

lewis : "i don't remember that kid's name, in williams ??"

rosa : "colapinto"

lewis : "colapinto *smiles* he did a great job as well"

🥹🩵

congratulations @FranColapinto 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷✨✨✨

pic.twitter.com/rh0poFdfP5

— sim (@sim3744) September 15, 2024

After the race, Hamilton was quick to acknowledge the talents of the young drivers. Speaking to the media, he praised Bearman first, noting how tough but fair their race had been. However, when it came to naming Colapinto, he drew a blank. “I don’t remember the kid’s name in the Williams…,” he hesitated, before someone off-camera reminded him. Laughing, Hamilton then continued, “Colapinto, yeah, he did a great job.”

This little slip-up caused an immediate stir online. Fans were quick to compare Hamilton’s memory lapse to Rohit Sharma’s infamous habit of forgetting things, including players' names and even important decisions during tosses. Social media was flooded with jokes, and Hamilton’s moment soon became a viral topic of discussion.

Franco Colapinto’s unfazed reaction

Meanwhile, Colapinto, who seemed unfazed by the moment, took to Instagram to share his excitement after the race. The young Argentinian posted a picture of Hamilton congratulating him in the paddock, captioning it, "My best moment of the day," adding that shaking hands with Hamilton was a "dream come true."

For Colapinto earned four points for his eighth-place finish. His rise in the standings, moving ahead of more seasoned drivers like Logan Sargeant and Valtteri Bottas, marks him as a promising future star. Bearman, too, had a solid performance, ending just behind Hamilton in 10th. The British driver, stepping in for Kevin Magnussen due to a race ban, made his debut for Haas in Baku. Bearman has also impressed, with his future in F1 looking bright as he’s set to race for Haas in 2025.