Lando Norris has been the target of substantial online abuse after urging Formula One authorities to impose a ban on Argentine driver Franco Colapinto. Norris made this appeal following an incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Colapinto’s actions caused a three-car collision that forced Norris to retire from the race on Saturday.
The British driver’s remarks sparked a wave of hostile reactions on social media, primarily from supporters of Colapinto. Acknowledging responsibility for the collision, Colapinto, who drives for Alpine, will face a five-place grid penalty at the upcoming Grand Prix.
In response to the online backlash, Alpine issued a statement on Sunday addressing the issue. The team highlighted the prevalence of abuse directed not only at their own driver but also at members of the Formula One community, including media personnel and fellow competitors. They emphasised that mistakes are part of racing at the highest level, and no one should be subjected to hateful or abusive comments regardless of outcomes.
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Alpine condemned the social media abuse as a universal issue affecting all fans of the sport, not targeting any particular team or driver’s supporters. They reaffirmed their commitment to standing with Formula One, the FIA, and other teams in eradicating abusive behaviour. The team expressed a responsibility to engage with championship promoters, rights holders, and the governing body to find solutions that encourage healthy sporting rivalry, which is central to the appeal of Formula One.
Norris’s failure to finish in Baku has left him 116 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, effectively ending his title defence. Meanwhile, George Russell secured his third victory of the season, reducing Antonelli’s lead from 81 points to 66, with 208 points still available over the remaining eight rounds.
Russell now stands as Antonelli’s primary competitor for the championship. He will aim to build on his recent victory at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Antonelli, who described his performance in Baku as driving “like my grandmother” after a crash in qualifying and a fifth-place finish, has vowed to return stronger at Sepang. He stated that while Russell has always been his rival, he plans to reassert his dominance and improve his performance. Reflecting on a challenging weekend, Antonelli acknowledged the lessons learned and expressed confidence in better results moving forward.