Norris calls for Colapinto race ban after Baku collision

Lando Norris called for Franco Colapinto to receive at least a one-race ban after the Alpine driver’s error at a safety-car restart in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix caused a collision that ended Norris’s and Pierre Gasly’s races. The final stewarding outcome was not established in the available reports. The collision occurred at Turn 1 on lap 36, when Colapinto locked up while entering the corner and struck his Alpine teammate Gasly. Gasly’s car then collided with Norris’s McLaren, taking both drivers out of the race. Colapinto also failed to finish. Norris said after the race that he had not seen a replay of the incident when he commented. He argued that drivers should anticipate reduced grip and tyre temperatures at a restart, and said the FIA should impose race bans for incidents of this kind. Norris also said the crash had cost him car parts. His call was his personal view, not an announced decision by the FIA. Colapinto apologized to Alpine, Gasly and Norris, describing the incident as a major mistake and saying he had been out of control. He said he was sorry to the team and its factory, which he said had been working to score points.