Lando Norris has apologised to Franco Colapinto twice following their Azerbaijan Grand Prix clash, but comments from the Alpine driver have reignited the controversy among fans online.
Key Highlights
- Lando Norris apologised privately to Franco Colapinto and later publicly on Instagram for his post-race comments.
- Colapinto's Alpine triggered a chain reaction that eliminated himself, Pierre Gasly and Norris from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- Colapinto later said Norris had "way too far" with his comments while discussing the incident with ESPN Argentina.
- Fans on Reddit criticised Colapinto for bringing Max Verstappen and Norris' previous comments about hate into the discussion.
How the Baku Crash Unfolded
The controversy began after a Safety Car restart in the latter stages of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. While pushing up the inside of Turn 1, Colapinto locked his tyres and crashed into team-mate Pierre Gasly, sending the Alpine into Norris.
All three cars were forced to retire, ending Norris' race while the McLaren driver was still realistically involved in the championship fight. Frustrated by the incident, Norris criticised Colapinto in the media pen and called for stricter penalties for incidents of that nature.
Colapinto accepted responsibility and apologised to his team and McLaren, while the incident also earned him a five-place grid penalty for the following race.
Norris Apologises for His Outburst
After the adrenaline had faded, Norris contacted Colapinto privately to apologise before addressing the incident publicly on Instagram. The McLaren driver acknowledged that his comments went too far, saying emotions were running high but that it was not an excuse.
Norris also pointed to his own mistakes over the years and said he understood that errors were part of racing on the limit. Norris added that he and Colapinto had reached a good understanding, remained friends and were both looking forward to getting back on track.
Colapinto Reopens the Conversation
The situation appeared to be settled until Colapinto discussed the incident with ESPN Argentina. Asked whether Norris had gone too far, Colapinto said the McLaren driver "obviously went way too far" before referencing Norris' previous comments about hate and the responsibility drivers have as public figures.
Colapinto argued that drivers are also representatives of what they pass on to fans, suggesting that making such comments in the heat of the moment was wrong.
Fans React to the Verstappen Reference
Rather than viewing the interview as a chance to move on, some users on Reddit's popular F1 community felt Colapinto had reignited the dispute. Several commenters criticised the timing and tone of his remarks, with some arguing that they could prolong the controversy.
Others specifically questioned why Max Verstappen had been brought into the discussion, given that the Dutchman was not involved in the Baku incident. The fallout also extended beyond the drivers, with Alpine issuing a statement condemning the abuse directed at Colapinto following the race.
McLaren Leave Baku Empty-Handed
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix ultimately left McLaren with zero points after Norris' retirement, while the incident also ended the races of both Alpine drivers.
Norris and Colapinto have since attempted to move forward, but their Baku clash continues to generate discussion among F1 fans — proving that the race may have ended, but the controversy has not quite disappeared.
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