Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, publicly apologized to fellow driver Franco Colapinto for the harsh remarks he made in the wake of the crash that eliminated both of them from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The chain of events began when Colapinto, driving for Alpine, locked his brakes at the first corner on the restart after a safety‑car period. His loss of control caused him to collide with his teammate Pierre Gasly, who was then forced into the side of Norris's McLaren as the field accelerated away.
The resulting impact sent all three cars into the barriers, ending their races prematurely. In the immediate aftermath, Norris expressed his frustration on the podium‑side interview platform, stating that "there are some drivers who shouldn't be in Formula 1" and advocating for a one‑race suspension for anyone who initiates such dangerous incidents. His comments sparked a heated debate across social media, with many fans and commentators condemning both the on‑track incident and Norris's blunt assessment. Colapinto, visibly remorseful, offered an apology to both Gasly and Norris during his post‑race interview.
Nevertheless, the race stewards imposed a five‑place grid penalty on the Argentine for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, which this year takes place at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia rather than the traditional Bahrain venue. 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. 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." This post was accompanied by a photo of the two drivers shaking hands, underscoring the reconciliation. The incident and Norris's initial outburst ignited a broader discussion about online abuse directed at drivers, teams and officials. Alpine responded on Sunday with a strongly worded statement condemning the hateful messages that flooded social platforms after the Baku crash. The team clarified that their condemnation was not aimed at any particular fan base, but at the culture of harassment that has become increasingly common in the sport.
Alpine's statement read in part: "As a team, we feel it is 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 our racing counterparts who we respect, admire, and revel in 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.
Condemning abuse on social media is not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver; this is universal and should be called out and recognised by all fans of the sport. 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." This is not the first time Alpine has had to address fan misconduct. Earlier in the season, after Colapinto received a drive‑through penalty for overtaking under double‑yellow flags at Zandvoort, both FIA stewards and Alpine personnel were subjected to abusive messages.
Similarly, Pierre Gasly endured a wave of threats directed at his family after he briefly blocked Colapinto during the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Gasly later confirmed that the harassment extended beyond the driver himself, affecting his loved ones as well. Colapinto himself commented on the backlash, describing it as "never nice to get" and emphasizing that the vitriol was not limited to his own supporters.
Alpine, in its latest communication, tried to distance the team from any implication that they were targeting a specific group of fans, stressing that the condemnation was aimed at the broader problem of online toxicity. The controversy arrives at a time when Formula 1 is expanding its global footprint, with the 2026 season seeing the Bahrain Grand Prix moved to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the first time since 2017. Fans can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with the event slated to kick off on Friday morning. Overall, the Baku incident serves as a reminder of the fine line drivers walk between aggressive competition and reckless behaviour, as well as the responsibility public figures have when expressing frustration.
Norris's subsequent apology and the team's united stance against harassment highlight a growing awareness within the sport that respect—both on and off the track—is essential for its continued success.