Lando Norris has called for a race ban for Franco Colapinto following a multi-car collision that ended his Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident occurred during a Safety Car restart on lap 36 at the Baku City Circuit, eliminating Norris, Colapinto, and Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly from the race.
Colapinto locked his brakes and went down the inside of Turn 1, making contact with Gasly, who then collected Norris. Norris, the reigning world champion, stated that some drivers ‘shouldn’t be in Formula 1’ and advocated for stricter penalties from the FIA.
The McLaren driver, who had dropped down the order earlier in the race due to his own lock-up, expressed significant frustration. He argued that causing a crash on a restart warrants at least a one-race ban, citing the carelessness and financial cost involved.
Norris emphasised the expectation for Formula 1 drivers to anticipate low grip and tyre temperatures, particularly after a Safety Car period. He highlighted that such incidents are not indicative of driving standards suitable for the pinnacle of motorsport.
Colapinto received a 10-second time penalty for causing the collision. As he did not finish the race, this penalty was converted into a five-place grid drop for the upcoming Malaysian Grand Prix.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore stated the team would ‘consider what course of action should be taken’ internally regarding Colapinto’s ‘very poor move’. Briatore acknowledged Colapinto’s responsibility and apologised to McLaren and Norris.
Colapinto, who made his Formula 1 debut with Williams in 2024 and joined Alpine as a race driver from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in 2025, accepted full responsibility for the incident.
He apologised to his team, Gasly, and Norris, attributing the mistake to cold brakes and cold tyres, which caused him to lose control. Colapinto and Gasly were running in the top 10 at the time of the crash, costing Alpine crucial championship points.
Pierre Gasly, who extended his contract with Alpine until at least the end of 2028, expressed his disappointment over the lost points. He noted the car’s strong performance throughout the weekend.
Race winner George Russell, however, disagreed with Norris’s call for a race ban. Russell described the incident as a ‘small error that had a big consequence’, suggesting bans should be reserved for intentionally dangerous or reckless actions.
Max Verstappen echoed Russell’s sentiment, stating that a race ban was ‘a bit much’ if the driver acknowledged their mistake and apologised. He noted that small errors or misjudgements, especially with low grip on the inside of Turn 1, can happen.
The FIA revised its penalty point system for the 2026 season, aiming to impose points only for dangerous, reckless, or deliberate actions resulting in a collision, or other unacceptable driving behaviour. Race bans for single incidents are rare in Formula 1.
The Baku City Circuit’s Turn 1 is known for being a challenging braking zone after a long straight, particularly on cold tyres during Safety Car restarts, which have frequently occurred at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Lando Norris, the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Champion, recently extended his contract with McLaren until at least the end of 2030.
Franco Colapinto also secured his future with Alpine, signing a contract extension in August 2026 that keeps him with the team through the 2027 season, partnering Gasly for a third consecutive year.
