Lando Norris has publicly called for a race suspension for Franco Colapinto following the incident that eliminated both him and Pierre Gasly from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The controversy began on lap 36, when the safety‑car period ended and the field rolled back onto the track. Colapinto, still on cold tyres and struggling with low grip, mis‑judged his braking point into turn one.
Carrying excessive speed, he slammed into the side of his Alpine teammate, Pierre Gasly, whose car was then forced into the outside of Norris’s McLaren. The impact sent Norris spinning into the barriers, while both Alpine cars suffered enough damage to force their retirement.
At the moment of the collision, Gasly was running seventh, Norris eighth and Colapinto tenth. Visibly frustrated, Norris told reporters: “In the end, I was just taken out.
There are some drivers who really shouldn’t be in Formula 1, to be honest.” He added that, although he had not seen the incident himself, any driver who causes a crash on a restart “should at least receive a one‑race ban.” The reigning world champion argued that the FIA needs to enforce stricter penalties for this type of reckless behaviour. Colapinto, for his part, issued an apology over team radio and later in a post‑race interview, describing the episode as a “big mistake.” He said, “I am very sorry to Pierre, to the whole factory, and to everyone who worked hard. We were both in the points, so it is very disappointing.” He explained that cold brakes, cold tyres and a lock‑up left him completely out of control, acknowledging that his error also took out both Gasly and Norris. The stewards handed Colapinto a ten‑second time penalty for causing the collision.
Because he had already retired, the penalty could not be served on track, so it was converted into a five‑place grid drop for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Under the current FIA system, drivers accumulate penalty points on their super‑licence; reaching twelve points within a rolling twelve‑month window triggers an automatic race ban. Colapinto entered the weekend with four points and did not receive any additional points for the Azerbaijan incident, aside from the grid penalty.
Norris characterised Colapinto’s driving as “just careless” and unfit for the sport. He lamented the financial impact, noting that the damage to his car meant “all my parts are in the bin now.” He also stressed that a Formula 1 driver should be able to anticipate low grip and cold tyre conditions, especially on a street circuit where margins are razor‑thin. “When something like this happens, it shows that the driver probably shouldn’t be there,” Norris added.
The crash compounded an already difficult weekend for Norris, who had been battling straight‑line speed deficiencies with his McLaren. Earlier in the race he had already lost positions after running wide at the first corner, allowing Gasly to overtake him. Gasly, meanwhile, had been on course for a strong points finish, potentially matching his second‑best result of the season with a seventh‑place finish. Alpine had been poised to close the nine‑point gap to the Racing Bulls team in the Constructors’ Championship, as both of their cars were in the points when the safety‑car period began.
However, the incident erased that advantage, leaving Alpine fifteen points behind the Bulls after the race, as Arvid Lindblad’s late surge secured seventh place for the Bulls. After the race, a stunned Gasly told Sky Sports F1, “It’s not easy. We had a very good weekend and the car was one of the best we’ve had this season, keeping up with Lewis and Lando for most of the race. We had a 14‑15 second gap to the midfield, so there are many positives, but I’m still trying to process the outcome.
We lost out to the Bulls by a large margin. It’s not an ideal day, but we will move on and try to make up the points by the end of the year.” Gasly also addressed the wave of online abuse he and his family received after the incident, describing it as “completely inappropriate.” He and Alpine have repeatedly condemned the harassment directed at drivers by some Argentine fans on social media. Both Gasly and Colapinto are confirmed to remain with Alpine for the next season.
When asked about their working relationship, Gasly replied, “It’s all about respect. As long as there is respect, everything is possible.” Colapinto echoed the sentiment, saying, “We get along well. Since we first worked together, we have had a good rapport, so we will move forward.” The Formula 1 calendar now heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can watch live coverage from Friday morning on Sky Sports F1, and the broadcast is also available via NOW streaming without a long‑term contract.