Lando Norris has officially apologised to Franco Colapinto for the stinging remarks he made in the immediate aftermath of their chaotic crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The collision, triggered when Colapinto locked his brakes during a Safety Car restart, also collected Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and eliminated all three drivers from contention.
Speaking to reporters right after the race on Saturday, Norris voiced severe frustration and stated that certain drivers should not be competing in Formula 1 while calling for stricter one-race bans for such incidents. However, the reigning world champion took to social media on Monday morning to express remorse for his words and clarify that high-pressure racing emotions do not excuse unprofessional commentary.
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Subscribe"After the race, I sent Franco a message apologising for the comments I made that I simply should not have said," Norris wrote in his statement, acknowledging that he has also made mistakes throughout his racing career and values his friendship with the young Argentine driver.
The high-profile incident sparked intense online debate and a wave of toxic social media abuse directed at drivers, stewards, and team members. In response, Alpine released a strongly worded statement condemning online hate, emphasizing that mistakes are part of racing on the limit and urging supporters across the entire sport to stamp out targeted harassment.
Alpine Condemns Online Abuse Following Baku Fallout
With the dust settled, both drivers have cleared the air and are looking forward to putting the drama behind them as the Formula 1 paddock heads to the Sepang International Circuit for the upcoming weekend.
The fiery aftermath of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix prompted Alpine to issue an urgent reminder regarding online conduct as toxic commentary surged across digital platforms following the collision. The team emphasized that hateful behavior targeting any driver, team personnel, or media member is completely unacceptable within the motorsport community.
"As a team, we feel it's necessary to speak out once more about the hate and abuse online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix," the team stated, highlighting that similar online hostility had previously targeted drivers and officials earlier in the current 2026 racing season.
Alpine clarified that their condemnation was not directed at any specific fan base or individual team supporters, but rather served as a universal call to action for all enthusiasts of the pinnacle of motorsport to promote mutual respect and sportsmanship.