Alpine condemns online abuse after Baku crash

Alpine condemned online abuse following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix crash involving Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, and said it would work with Formula 1’s promoter and the FIA to discuss ways to tackle it. The team said its statement was not directed at any particular driver, team or fan base, and called for respectful conduct across the sport. The crash happened at a Safety Car restart in Baku when Colapinto lost control and hit teammate Gasly, whose car then collided with Norris’s McLaren. All three drivers retired. Norris called for a race ban for the driver responsible, saying the collision had cost him car parts. He made the initial comments before reviewing footage and did not name Colapinto in them. The FIA stewards imposed a 10-second penalty on Colapinto for causing the collision. Reports say that, because he retired, the sanction was converted into a five-place grid drop at his next race. That penalty was separate from Norris’s call for a suspension; no race ban was reported. In its statement, Alpine said online abuse after the race had targeted one of its drivers as well as other members of the Formula 1 community, including media and rival teams.