Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, publicly expressed remorse to Franco Colapinto for the harsh comments he made following the incident that eliminated both drivers from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The crash originated when Colapinto, during the safety‑car restart in Baku, braked too hard into the first corner, locking his wheels and colliding with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly. Gasly’s car was forced onto the outside line, directly into the path of Norris’s McLaren, resulting in a double retirement. In the immediate aftermath of the race, Norris was candid on the podium, stating that “there are some drivers who shouldn’t be in Formula 1” and urging the sport’s stewards to consider a one‑race ban for anyone who initiates such dangerous incidents.
His comments sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many fans defending Colapinto while others condemned the young Argentine’s driving. Colapinto, in his post‑race interview, offered an apology to both Gasly and Norris for the mistake that caused the crash. Nevertheless, the FIA handed the Argentine a five‑place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, which will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
On Monday morning, Norris took to Instagram to address the controversy. He wrote: “Tough weekend overall in Baku and, of course, a disappointing and early end to the race. After the race, I sent Franco a message apologising for the comments I made that I simply should not have said.
I know better and emotions were running high but that is not an excuse, it was wrong of me.” He continued, acknowledging his own past mistakes and emphasizing that such errors are part of the sport: “I’ve made mistakes of my own over the years and I know this is very much a part of racing and fighting on the limit. Me and Franco came to a good understanding, are still good friends and are both excited to get back racing this weekend.” The incident and Norris’s initial outburst ignited a heated debate online. While many users targeted Colapinto for his perceived lack of judgment, others called out Norris for his harsh wording. Alpine reacted swiftly, issuing a statement on Sunday that condemned the wave of online abuse directed at drivers, team personnel, and the broader Formula 1 community in the wake of the Baku crash.
Alpine’s statement stressed that the team was not singling out any particular fan base or driver’s supporters. It read: “As a team, we feel it’s necessary to speak out once more about the hate and abuse online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Not only aimed at one of our own drivers, but also members of the Formula 1 community, including media, and to our racing counterparts who we respect, admire, and revel competing against in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments.” The team reiterated its stance against digital harassment, noting that such conduct has become a recurring problem across recent events. Alpine added that they stand in solidarity with the FIA, other teams, and the sport’s governing bodies in their effort to eradicate toxic behaviour online.
This is not the first time Alpine has publicly addressed social‑media abuse this season. Earlier, after Colapinto received a drive‑through penalty for overtaking under a double‑yellow flag in Zandvoort, Alpine staff and FIA stewards were subjected to a barrage of hostile messages. Similarly, Pierre Gasly faced abuse after a brief incident in the Spanish Grand Prix where he hesitated to let Colapinto pass, prompting threats that even extended to his family.
Colapinto himself has spoken out about the negative impact of online harassment, describing it as “never nice to get” and emphasizing that the blame does not rest solely on his supporters. He highlighted that the abuse stems from a broader segment of the fanbase and called for a collective responsibility to curb such behaviour.
Alpine’s latest communiqué attempted to avoid alienating any particular group of supporters, stating clearly that the condemnation of abuse is universal and not aimed at any single fan community. The statement concluded: “As we have said in previous instances, we strongly condemn the reaction of some fans online and stand in solidarity with Formula One, the FIA, and other teams in wanting to stamp it out. It has become a regular occurrence in recent races and cannot be condoned.” Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix set to take place at the iconic Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing experience.
The Baku episode serves as a reminder of the intense emotions that can flare in high‑stakes motorsport, the importance of measured commentary from its biggest stars, and the ongoing challenge of fostering a respectful online environment for all participants in the sport.