Alpine condemn online abuse after Colapinto crash — SkimNews
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- Alpine condemned online hate directed at drivers, media, and teams after Franco Colapinto’s crash triggered a three-car collision involving Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, calling for universal action against social media abuse
- Franco Colapinto admitted a 'big mistake' caused the Azerbaijan GP crash and will serve a five-place grid penalty at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after retiring from the race
- Lando Norris said drivers who cause such incidents should face a one-race ban and suggested some drivers don’t belong in Formula 1, drawing pushback from other top finishers
- George Russell, Max Verstappen, and Isack Hadjar all disagreed with Norris’ call for a race ban, calling the incident a small error with large consequences due to Baku’s challenging restart conditions
- Flavio Briatore stated he would reflect on what 'course of action should be taken' with Colapinto, calling the error 'very poor' and expressing disappointment over lost championship points
- Andrea Stella emphasized that drivers must use common sense at high-risk circuits like Baku, trusting stewards to apply appropriate penalties based on context
Why it matters: Alpine lost seven potential constructors’ points while Racing Bulls extended their lead by 15, tightening the battle for fifth place with eight rounds left. The incident escalates scrutiny on driver accountability and fan conduct, with tangible sporting and reputational stakes for teams and individuals.
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