Norris calls for ban on Colapinto after Azerbaijan Grand Prix restart crash
World champion Lando Norris says Alpine's Franco Colapinto deserves a race ban after causing a multi-car crash at a restart in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that ended three drivers' races.
A restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix triggered a chain-reaction crash that ended the races of three drivers, including world champion Lando Norris. Alpine driver Franco Colapinto locked his brakes and slid into team-mate Pierre Gasly, who was then pushed into Norris's car. All three cars were forced to retire as a result.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live afterward, Norris said Colapinto should face a ban, describing the case as straightforward. The British driver argued that motorsport's governing body, the FIA, does not treat such incidents seriously enough given the consequences for drivers who bear no responsibility for the crash.
Norris pointed out that careless driving of this kind carries a heavy financial cost, noting that all of his car's damaged parts had effectively become worthless afterward. He said the FIA should adopt a stricter approach and start imposing bans for this type of incident, arguing that drivers who cause such crashes do not belong in Formula 1. In his view, causing a crash at a restart should result in at least a one-race ban.
Colapinto acknowledged responsibility for the incident, apologising to everyone affected and calling it a major mistake. The Argentine driver explained that he locked his brakes and subsequently lost control of the car entirely.
