Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, publicly expressed remorse to Franco Colapinto for the harsh comments he made following the crash that eliminated both drivers from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The accident occurred during a Safety Car restart in Baku when Colapinto, attempting to accelerate into the first corner, locked his brakes and collided with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly.
Gasly was then forced into the side of Norris’s McLaren, ending the race for all three competitors. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Norris was outspoken, stating that “there are some drivers who shouldn’t be in Formula 1” and advocating for a one‑race suspension for anyone who caused a similar incident.
His remarks sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many fans and commentators condemning both Colapinto’s driving error and Norris’s blunt assessment. Colapinto, in his post‑race interview, apologized to both Gasly and Norris for his mistake. Nevertheless, the Argentine received a five‑place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The following Monday, Norris took to Instagram to issue a more measured apology.
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.” Norris continued, acknowledging his own past errors on the track and emphasizing that heated moments are an inevitable part of racing at the limit. He added, “Me and Franco have come to a good understanding, we remain friends, and we’re both looking forward to getting back on track this weekend.” The incident and Norris’s initial outburst ignited a social‑media firestorm. Some users targeted Colapinto for his driving, while others criticized the British driver for his choice of words. In response, Alpine released a statement on Sunday denouncing the online abuse directed at drivers, team personnel, and the broader Formula 1 community.
The team stressed that the condemnation was not aimed at any particular fan base but at the culture of hate that has become increasingly common in the sport’s digital spaces. Alpine’s statement read, in part: “As a team, we feel it is necessary to speak out again about the hate and abuse online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The abuse was not only aimed at one of our drivers but also at members of the Formula 1 community, including media and our racing counterparts, whom we respect and admire.
Mistakes happen when racing at the limit, and regardless of the outcome, nobody should be subjected to hateful or abusive comments. Condemning abuse on social media is not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of a single team or driver; this is a universal issue that must be called out and recognized by all fans of the sport.” Alpine also referenced previous incidents where its personnel and drivers faced similar online vitriol. Earlier in the season, after Colapinto received a drive‑through penalty for overtaking under double‑yellow flags at Zandvoort, FIA stewards and Alpine staff were targeted with abusive messages.
Pierre Gasly also endured threats after a brief on‑track dispute with Colapinto at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, with the French driver revealing that the harassment extended to his family. Colapinto himself commented on the backlash after the Madrid episode, describing the experience as “never nice” and emphasizing that the abuse was not limited to his own supporters.
Alpine’s latest statement attempted to avoid alienating any particular group of fans, stating that the condemnation was “not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver.” The broader issue of social‑media abuse in Formula 1 has been a growing concern for teams, drivers, and governing bodies alike. Both the FIA and the sport’s commercial rights holder have pledged to monitor and address toxic behaviour online, recognizing that such hostility can have real‑world consequences for the individuals involved.
Looking ahead, the Formula 1 calendar moves to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, where the Bahrain Grand Prix will be staged at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
As the season progresses, the focus remains on delivering competitive racing while fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all participants and supporters.