Norris hit by online abuse after Colapinto ban call in Baku
Lando Norris has been subjected to a wave of online abuse after saying Alpine driver Franco Colapinto should not be in Formula One.
The McLaren driver made the comments after the two collided at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, a race won by George Russell. The fallout has since overtaken the result, with Alpine issuing a statement condemning online hate and abuse The Guardian.
The crash happened on the Lap 36 safety car restart at Turn 1. A safety car restart bunches the field back up and then releases it for racing, often creating a scramble for position into the first corner Formula1.com.
Colapinto locked up going into the turn, meaning his tyres stopped rotating under braking and he could not slow the car. He hit teammate Pierre Gasly, who was then pushed into Norris. All three retired on the spot. Norris had been on course for points before he was forced out.
Norris was blunt afterwards. “Some drivers shouldn’t be in F1,” he said when reflecting on the clash that ended his race Formula1.com.
He went further and said Colapinto should receive at least a one-race ban for causing the restart crash. The stewards took a different view. Colapinto was given a five-place grid penalty for triggering the collision.
Colapinto apologised after the race in Baku and accepted he was at fault. That apology has not stopped the abuse spreading in both directions.
Colapinto and Alpine have previously condemned online abuse aimed at other drivers from some Argentine fans. Norris has now become the target himself after his call for a ban.
This is not the first time the team has dealt with the issue. Gasly described as “disturbing” the online abuse he received after holding up Colapinto in the late stages of the Spanish Grand Prix. Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore then warned he would stop Colapinto speaking to Argentinian media if the abuse toward Gasly continued.
Colapinto made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2024 before joining Alpine midway through the 2025 season. He is in his first full stretch with the team.
What makes this stand out is the pattern. A racing incident on track becomes a wider argument off it, and drivers end up answering questions about social media as well as speed.
