Norris Apologises to Colapinto Over Baku Ban Comments

Key Takeaways

What Happened at the Restart

A lap 36 restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku ended the races of three drivers when Franco Colapinto locked up into Turn 1 on the slippery street circuit. The lock-up triggered a pile-up that eliminated Colapinto himself, his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly, and Lando Norris’s McLaren. The collision came on a restart where grip levels were low and tyre temperatures had not fully built, conditions that played directly into how the incident unfolded.

Norris’s Initial Reaction

Norris said drivers who cause this kind of restart crash should face a ban, arguing in the immediate aftermath that stewards needed to be tougher on careless driving. “I’ve not seen it. I just got taken out. I think the FIA should be stricter and start handing out bans for this kind of stuff,” he said. He added that the financial cost of such incidents was significant for teams, saying “It’s careless from people. It costs a lot of money. All my parts are in the bin now. People should just get banned, because that’s not driving that deserves to be in Formula 1.”

Addressing the Mitigating Circumstances

Norris argued that Formula 1 drivers are expected to anticipate difficult conditions rather than be excused by them. Asked whether the low-grip Baku surface offered any mitigation for Colapinto, he replied: “In Formula 1, I think you expect drivers to anticipate things. Grip is going to be low. Tyre temps are low, they weren’t even that low. In Formula 1, we want to be against the best drivers in the world, and when stuff like this happens, it’s because [they] shouldn’t be there.” He went further, saying: “I’ve not seen it, but if you cause a crash in a restart like this, you should have at least a one-race ban.”

The Apology

Norris says he has privately apologised to Colapinto for the comments after reflecting on the incident for two days. Posting on social media, 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.” He acknowledged the pressure of the moment had gotten the better of him, adding: “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.”

Why It Matters

The episode highlights the scrutiny Colapinto has faced during his Formula 1 career, with Norris’s initial comments having sparked further online abuse directed at the Alpine driver. Norris’s public reversal, delivered within days of the Baku collision, underlines how quickly heated in-race reactions can escalate before being walked back once emotions settle. The incident remains notable for eliminating three drivers, Colapinto, Gasly and Norris, from the same restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

FAQ

Q: What caused the crash between Norris, Colapinto and Gasly?
A lock-up by Franco Colapinto into Turn 1 during a lap 36 restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix triggered the pile-up that eliminated him, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris.

Q: What did Lando Norris initially say about the incident?
Norris said the FIA should be stricter and hand out race bans for careless driving, arguing a one-race ban was warranted for causing a crash in a restart like that.

Q: Did Norris apologise to Colapinto?
Yes, Norris said he sent Franco Colapinto a private message after the race apologising for the comments he made, admitting it was wrong of him.

Shop Lando Norris Collection

Display and collector replicas only. Not certified for protective use. Full-size 1:1 scale.