Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris said he apologised to Franco Colapinto for the stinging comments he made after the Alpine driver caused a crash that took both of them out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Colapinto triggered the accident during a Safety Car restart in Baku when he locked his brakes into the first corner and hit the side of his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly, who was sent straight into Norris’ McLaren on his outside.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the incident in Saturday’s race, Norris said “there are some drivers who shouldn’t be in Formula 1” and called for such incidents to result in one-race bans for the initiator.
Colapinto apologised to both Gasly and Norris during his post-race interviews, but the Argentine driver was handed a five-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
On Monday morning, Norris posted on Instagram: “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.”
Alpine condemn social media abuse
The incident and Norris’ initial criticism caused a social media furore, with users criticising Colapinto for his driving, and the Brit for his comments.
The fallout led to Alpine releasing a statement on Sunday condemning the online abuse and hate aimed at drivers and others in F1 that had followed the incident.
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Colapinto was apologetic to Pierre Gasly after he took out his Alpine team-mate during the safety car restart
It’s not the first time Alpine have spoken out against social media abuse this season, with the online conduct of Colapinto’s fans having previously come under scrutiny.
FIA stewards and Alpine staff were targeted when Colapinto received a drive-through penalty for overtaking under a double yellow flag in Zandvoort.
Gasly was also abused after briefly refusing to let Colapinto past him during the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid earlier this month. The Frenchman revealed the threats targeted his family too.
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Highlights from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Colapinto said after the Madrid fallout that it’s “never nice to get” social media abuse, but insisted that it’s “not just my fans” who are guilty of it.
Alpine appeared to attempt to avoid antagonising Colapinto’s fans in their latest statement by insisting their statement wasn’t “aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver”.
The statement said: “As a team, we feel it’s 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 to our racing counterparts who we respect, admire, and revel 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.”
Formula 1 heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch live coverage from Friday morning, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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