Lando Norris has openly called for a race‑length suspension for Franco Colapinto following the incident that eliminated both Alpine drivers and Norris himself from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The controversy unfolded on lap 36 when the safety‑car period ended and the field surged back onto the track.
Colapinto, who was still on cold tyres and evidently still feeling the grip deficit typical of a restart, misjudged his braking point into turn one. Carrying excessive speed, he locked his front wheels and ploughed straight into the side of his team‑mate Pierre Gasly’s Alpine.
The impact sent Gasly’s car sideways into the outside of Norris’s McLaren, sending the Briton spinning into the barriers. All three cars were forced to retire.
At the moment of the collision Gasly was running seventh, Norris eighth and Colapinto tenth, meaning the three were all sitting inside the points before the mishap. Norris, visibly frustrated, told reporters, “At the end of the day, I just got taken out. Just some drivers that shouldn’t be in Formula 1, to be honest.” He later added that, in his view, any driver who causes a restart‑phase crash should automatically face at least a one‑race ban, arguing that the FIA needs to enforce stricter penalties for reckless behaviour.
Colapinto, for his part, was quick to apologise over team radio and in post‑race interviews. He described the incident as a "big mistake" and expressed remorse toward both his teammate and Norris. "A huge sorry to Pierre, to everyone in the factory who have worked so hard.
We were both in the points and now we’re very sad and disappointed," he said. He blamed the error on cold brakes, cold tyres and a lock‑up that left him completely out of control, acknowledging that his misjudgement had taken out both Alpine drivers.
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 and was therefore converted into a five‑place grid drop for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Under the current FIA points system, drivers accumulate penalty points on their super licences; reaching twelve points within a rolling twelve‑month period triggers an automatic race ban. Colapinto currently sits on four points, and the Bahrain grid penalty does not add any points to his licence.
Norris characterised Colapinto’s driving as "just careless" and unfit for the sport. He highlighted the financial impact of the crash, noting that the damaged parts would have to be replaced at considerable cost. "It is not the type of driving that deserves to be in Formula 1," he said. "In F1 you are expected to anticipate low grip and cold tyre conditions, especially on a restart.
When drivers fail to do that, it suggests they should not be there." The incident came at a time when Norris was already battling an "impossible race" due to straight‑line speed deficiencies in his McLaren. Earlier in the stint, he had been forced wide at the first corner, allowing Gasly to overtake and move into seventh place.
Gasly had been on course for his second‑best finish of the season, having posted a strong performance on the Baku street circuit. Alpine, meanwhile, were poised to close the nine‑point gap to Racing Bulls in the Constructors' Championship, as both cars were in the points when the safety‑car period began.
The crash, however, left the team fifteen points adrift after Racing Bulls surged late in the race to claim seventh place. Gasly, speaking to Sky Sports F1, admitted he was "almost lost for words" after the incident.
He praised the weekend’s performance, noting that the Alpine had been able to keep pace with the front‑runners, including Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, for most of the race. Yet he expressed disappointment at losing out to Racing Bulls and lamented the missed opportunity to secure valuable championship points. He also addressed the wave of online abuse he and his family received after the crash, describing it as "completely inappropriate". Both Alpine and Colapinto have condemned the harassment directed at drivers by certain Argentine fans.
Looking ahead, both Colapinto and Gasly have confirmed their seats at Alpine for the next season. When asked about their future partnership, Gasly emphasized the importance of mutual respect, stating, "Respect is everything.
As long as there is respect, anything is possible." Colapinto echoed this sentiment, noting that they have always worked well together since their first collaboration and that they intend to move forward positively. The Formula 1 calendar now turns to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the sport’s first visit to the venue since 2017. Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW for those who prefer an online subscription without a long‑term contract. The upcoming race will provide an early test of whether the FIA will adopt Norris’s call for harsher sanctions on drivers whose mistakes endanger others, and it will also be a chance for Alpine to recover from the costly Baku setback and re‑establish their challenge for a higher place in the Constructors' standings.