Should a driver who sparks a Baku pile‑up be banned for a race? World champion Lando Norris thinks Franco Colapinto merits at least a one‑race suspension.
On the 36th‑lap restart through Baku’s streets, Colapinto braked hard on cold front tyres and slammed into Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly at Turn 1, pulling Norris into the chaos.
The collision eliminated both Gasly and Norris, capping a disappointing afternoon for the McLaren star who had already struggled for pace and then made his own Turn 1 error, dropping into the pack.
Norris left the restart enraged, insisting the stewards should mete out a harsh penalty for Colapinto’s reckless move.
He warned, “The FIA must tighten up and start issuing bans for this sort of careless behaviour; my car is now a scrap heap, and such driving has no place in Formula 1.”
When pressed about mitigating factors on Baku’s slick surface, Norris argued drivers are expected to anticipate low grip and cool tyres, and that only the best belong at the pinnacle of motorsport.
In his view, any driver causing a restart crash deserves at least a one‑race ban.
Lando Norris – McLaren.
Colapinto, who also angered Gasly after the pair had been running in the points, offered an apology afterward.
The Argentine admitted, “I made a huge mistake. I locked the cold tyres and brakes and lost control completely. I can only apologise to the team, to Pierre and to the whole factory.”
He added, “We’ve worked hard for points and I threw it away with that error. I’m deeply sorry to the team and especially to Lando.”
Photos from the F1 Azerbaijan GP – Saturday
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– The Team