Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, publicly expressed remorse to Franco Colapinto for the sharp comments he made following the crash that eliminated both drivers from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The mishap unfolded during a Safety Car restart in Baku when Colapinto, attempting to accelerate out of the first corner, locked his brakes and collided with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly.
Gasly was forced onto the racing line, where he was struck by Norris’s McLaren, ending the Briton’s race as well. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Norris was outspoken, stating, "There are some drivers who shouldn't be in Formula 1," and suggested that drivers who cause such accidents should face a one‑race suspension. Colapinto, in turn, offered an apology to both Gasly and Norris during his post‑race interview, but the FIA still imposed a five‑place grid penalty on the Argentine 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 situation.
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." His post highlighted both his acknowledgment of the mistake and his desire to move forward positively. The exchange sparked a heated debate on social media. Some users condemned Colapinto’s driving, while others criticized Norris for his harsh wording. Alpine responded on Sunday with a statement denouncing the wave of online abuse directed at drivers, team personnel, and the broader Formula 1 community after the Baku incident.
The team emphasized that the condemnation was not aimed at any specific fan base but at the toxic behaviour that has become increasingly common in the sport. Alpine’s stance is not new this season. Earlier, the team had to address harassment aimed at its personnel after Colapinto received a drive‑through penalty for overtaking under a double‑yellow flag at Zandvoort. Additionally, Pierre Gasly faced abuse after a brief on‑track dispute with Colapinto during the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, with threats even extending to his family.
Colapinto himself remarked that the social‑media backlash was "never nice to get" and clarified that the abusive messages were not solely the work of his own supporters. In its latest communiqué, Alpine stressed that the condemnation of online hate was universal: "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 to 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." The controversy underscores a broader issue within Formula 1: the growing prevalence of hostile online environments that target drivers, team members, and even their families. While the sport continues to expand its global audience, the responsibility to foster respectful discourse falls on fans, media outlets, and the governing bodies alike.
Looking ahead, the championship will travel to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place at Sepang International Circuit. Fans can watch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a flexible subscription model. As the season progresses, the focus will shift back to on‑track performance, but the conversation about driver conduct—both on and off the track—remains a pivotal part of the sport’s narrative.