Lando Norris apologises to Franco Colapinto over ban comments
F1 world champion Lando Norris has apologized to Franco Colapinto via Instagram for angrily suggesting a ban after their Baku crash.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Lando Norris sent an Instagram message to apologize to Franco Colapinto.
- The apology stems from comments suggesting Colapinto should be banned after the Azerbaijan GP.
- Norris admitted that emotions were running high and his remarks were wrong.
- Both drivers have resolved the issue and remain good friends ahead of the weekend.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has issued an apology to Franco Colapinto for harsh remarks made following an accident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The multi-car crash occurred when Colapinto locked up at the restart following a safety-car period, sliding into Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. Gasly's car was subsequently sent careening into McLaren's Norris, forcing all three drivers into early retirements from the race.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In the heat of the moment last Saturday, an upset Norris stated publicly that the Argentine driver should face a ban for causing the collision. However, taking to Instagram, the world champion expressed sincere regret for his post-race statements, describing the weekend in Baku as exceptionally tough and disappointing due to the early exit.
"After the race, I sent Franco a message apologising for the comments I made that I simply should not have said."
Lando Norris
Norris candidly admitted that he knows better and that heightened emotions were no excuse for his behavior, acknowledging that speaking out like that was a mistake on his part. He added that he has also made numerous mistakes throughout his career and understands that incidents are an inherent part of racing and fighting on the absolute limit.
High-adrenaline collisions in Formula 1 frequently trigger sharp words in the media pen as drivers process disappointments immediately after checkered flags. Norris's public accountability and direct outreach to patch things up highlight professional maturity, ensuring that personal friction between drivers does not overshadow upcoming Grands Prix.
Meanwhile, Colapinto received a 10-second penalty during the race, but because he had already retired, it was converted into a five-place grid drop. He will serve this penalty at the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia this weekend.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Ending on a positive note, Norris confirmed that he and Colapinto have reached a good mutual understanding, remain solid friends, and are both eager to jump back into their cars and resume racing this coming weekend.
Source: BBC Sport
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