Lando Norris has openly called for a race suspension for Franco Colapinto following the dramatic incident that eliminated both Alpine drivers from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The controversy erupted on lap 36, when the race restarted under the safety car.
Colapinto, still struggling with cold tyres and brakes, misjudged his braking point into turn one and slammed into his teammate Pierre Gasly. The impact forced Gasly’s Alpine into the path of Norris’s McLaren, sending the British driver careening into the barriers and ending his race prematurely. At the moment of the collision, Gasly was running a solid seventh, Norris held eighth place, and Colapinto occupied tenth. The three cars were all in the points when the restart unfolded, making the mistake all the more costly.
Norris, visibly upset, said, "In the end I was just taken out. Some drivers simply shouldn’t be in Formula 1, to be honest." He added that the governing body should impose stricter penalties for such reckless behaviour, suggesting a minimum one‑race ban for drivers who cause accidents on a safety‑car restart.
Colapinto immediately expressed remorse over the team radio and later in post‑race interviews, describing his actions as a "big mistake". He apologized to the Alpine crew, to Pierre, and to Lando, emphasizing that the error stemmed from cold brakes, cold tyres and a loss of control that led to a locked‑up wheel. The young Argentine driver accepted a ten‑second time penalty from the stewards, but because he had already retired, the sanction was converted into a five‑place grid drop for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Under the current FIA penalty framework, drivers accumulate points on their super licences for on‑track indiscretions.
Reaching twelve points within a rolling twelve‑month period triggers an automatic race ban. Colapinto entered the Azerbaijan event with four penalty points and, aside from the grid penalty, did not receive any additional points for the incident. Norris, however, labelled Colapinto’s conduct as "just careless" and unfit for the pinnacle of motorsport, noting the financial repercussions of the crash: "All my parts are now in the bin. It’s not the sort of driving you expect in Formula 1." Norris also highlighted the broader context of his own race, describing it as "impossible" due to straight‑line speed deficiencies that forced him to fall behind Gasly earlier in the stint.
Gasly, who had been on track for a career‑best finish, expressed disappointment after the race, saying, "It’s not easy. We had a very good weekend, the car was one of the best we’ve run this season, and we were keeping pace with Lewis Hamilton and Lando for most of the race. Yet the outcome was heartbreaking because we lost out to Racing Bulls by a large margin." The Alpine team, which had been poised to close the nine‑point gap to Racing Bulls in the constructors’ standings, left Baku fifteen points behind after the incident. The loss of both cars from the points tally was a significant setback, especially given that Alpine had been running strongly in the midfield battle.
Beyond the on‑track drama, Gasly addressed the "completely inappropriate" online abuse he and his family received after the crash. He condemned the toxic behaviour of some Argentine fans, a sentiment echoed by both Alpine and Colapinto, who have repeatedly spoken out against harassment directed at drivers. Looking ahead, both Alpine drivers are confirmed to remain with the team for the next season. When asked about his working relationship with Colapinto, Gasly emphasized respect as the foundation of their partnership, stating, "As long as there is respect, everything is possible." Colapinto echoed this sentiment, noting that they have always gotten along well since their first collaboration and that they intend to move forward together.
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 catch the live action on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a long‑term contract. The incident in Azerbaijan 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 on the world’s most demanding circuits.