Colapinto apologises to Alpine and Norris after costly Baku Collision

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has issued a heartfelt apology following a significant error that derailed both his teammate, Pierre Gasly, and McLaren’s Lando Norris during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

A Massive Blow for Alpine

The collision proved disastrous for Alpine, as both drivers were positioned within the top ten at the time of the accident. This error effectively stripped the team of a significant points haul. The fallout was compounded by the emotional impact on the drivers involved; Gasly was understandably distraught, and the team’s hard work throughout the weekend appeared to vanish in an instant.

Calls for Stricter Penalties

The incident has sparked heated debate regarding driver responsibility. Lando Norris, who also suffered in the clash, has gone as far as to call on the FIA to implement a race ban for such instances of careless driving.

When questioned about Norris's demand for a severe penalty, Colapinto expressed remorse for all parties involved. “Well, sorry to Lando as well, to be honest, not only Pierre. Sorry to everyone, it's a big mistake, of course,” the Argentinian driver noted.

Colapinto also acknowledged the gravity of hitting a teammate, a breach of the sport's unwritten code. He noted that while a solo error is a learning moment, involving others makes it far worse. The driver indicated that he expects the FIA stewards to take action, stating, “I do expect to get something, of course.”