Lando Norris has openly called for a race suspension for Franco Colapinto after the Argentine’s mis‑calculated move at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix eliminated both Alpine drivers and Norris himself from the contest. The incident unfolded on lap 36 when the field regrouped behind the safety‑car. Colapinto, who had been running tenth, braked far too late into Turn 1, carrying excessive speed and colliding with his teammate Pierre Gasly’s Alpine. The impact forced Gasly’s car into the side of Norris’s McLaren, sending the Briton spinning into the barriers and ending his race prematurely.
All three cars suffered terminal damage and were forced to retire. At the time of the crash Gasly was sitting in seventh place, Norris in eighth and Colapinto in tenth, meaning the three drivers were all in the points and Alpine were poised to narrow the gap to their rivals, Racing Bulls, in the Constructors’ Championship.
The mishap not only wiped out those points but also left Alpine fifteen points behind Racing Bulls after the race concluded. Visibly frustrated, Norris 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 added that the governing body should be tougher on repeat offenders, stating, "If you cause a crash on a restart like this, you should have at least a one‑race ban.
The FIA needs to start handing out bans for this kind of behaviour." Colapinto, for his part, issued a heartfelt apology both over the team radio and later in post‑race interviews. He described the incident as a "big mistake," blaming cold brakes, cold tyres and a lock‑up for the loss of control. "A huge sorry to Pierre, to everyone in the factory that has worked so hard. We were both in the points, so it’s very sad and disappointing," he said.
He also expressed regret for taking Norris out, acknowledging that his error had consequences for multiple drivers. The stewards handed Colapinto a ten‑second time penalty for causing the collision. Because he had already retired, the penalty was converted into a five‑place grid drop for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The penalty points system in Formula 1 imposes a race ban on any driver who accumulates twelve points on his super licence within a rolling twelve‑month period.
Colapinto entered the Azerbaijan race with four points on his licence and did not receive any additional points for the incident, meaning the grid penalty was the only sanction applied. Norris characterised Colapinto’s driving as "just careless" and unworthy of the sport’s elite standards.
"It costs a lot of money – all my parts are in the bin now," he complained, adding that a driver in Formula 1 should be able to anticipate low grip and cold tyre conditions, especially after a safety‑car period. "You want to be competing against the best drivers, and when something like this happens it shows that some people really shouldn’t be there." The British driver also noted that his weekend had been "impossible" due to straight‑line speed deficiencies with his McLaren, which had already forced him off the optimal racing line earlier in the race. Gasly, who had been on course for a season‑best finish, expressed disappointment after the incident, saying, "It’s not easy. We had a very good weekend and one of the best race cars we’ve had this season, keeping up with Lewis and Lando for most of the race.
But the outcome is hard to process – we lost out to Racing Bulls by a large margin." Beyond the on‑track drama, Gasly also spoke out about the "completely inappropriate" online abuse he and his family received after the crash, a problem that has been linked to a vocal segment of Argentine fans. Both Alpine and Colapinto have condemned the harassment, emphasizing that respect should be the cornerstone of any fan‑driver relationship. Looking ahead, both Alpine drivers have confirmed their seats for the next season, and Gasly reiterated that mutual respect is essential for their partnership to thrive.
"Respect. It’s all about respect. As long as there is respect, everything is possible," he said when asked about continuing to work with Colapinto. Colapinto echoed the sentiment, stating, "We are good.
We have always gotten along well since we first worked together, so we need to move on." The Formula 1 calendar now turns to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the sport’s return to the venue for the first time since 2017. Fans can watch the live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. The incident in Baku serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in motorsport and has reignited the debate over whether harsher penalties are needed to deter reckless driving at the highest level of racing.