Norris apologises to Colapinto after calling for race ban

Lando Norris has taken a step back from his furious post-race reaction to Franco Colapinto’s Baku blunder, admitting that his call for the Alpine driver to be banned went too far.

Norris was one of the victims when Colapinto locked up under braking at Turn 1 during the first Safety Car restart of last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Argentine lost control of his Alpine while attempting to negotiate the crowded corner, collecting team-mate Pierre Gasly and sweeping Norris into the chaos.

The incident left the McLaren driver with an early retirement and plenty of anger. He subsequently launched an extraordinary broadside at Colapinto, describing him as a driver who should not be in Formula 1 and arguing that the FIA should hand him a race ban.

That response sparked a backlash from Argentine fans and prompted Alpine to call for calm.

With several drivers, including George Russell and Max Verstappen, subsequently suggesting that Norris’ proposed punishment was excessive, the McLaren driver has now chosen to cool the situation himself.

Norris admits he ‘was wrong’

Taking to Instagram, Norris revealed that he had personally contacted Colapinto to apologise for what he said in the immediate aftermath of the crash.

“Tough weekend overall in Baku and, of course, a disappointing and early end to the race,” he wrote.

“After the race, I sent Franco a message apologising for the comments I made that I simply should not have said.

“I know better and emotions were running high, but this is not an excuse.

“It was wrong of me. I’ve made mistakes of my own over the years and I know this is very much part of racing and fighting on the limit.”

The apology represents a significant change in tone from Norris’ initial reaction, when frustration over losing another potential points haul boiled over into a demand for Colapinto to sit out a race.

Colapinto was subsequently handed a 10-second penalty by the stewards for causing the collision. As he retired before serving it, that sanction was converted into a five-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

‘Still good friends’

Norris also made clear that the dispute has not damaged his relationship with Colapinto, suggesting the pair have already put the incident behind them.

“Me and Franco came to a good understanding, are still good friends and are both excited to get back racing this weekend,” he said.

For Norris, that final message provides a much calmer conclusion to a Baku episode that initially threatened to become considerably more personal than a standard racing incident.

The McLaren driver has acknowledged that his words went beyond the limits of what he felt was appropriate, while Colapinto heads into the next race carrying the FIA's five-place penalty rather than the much harsher punishment Norris had demanded in the heat of the moment.

Read also: Russell and Verstappen call Norris’ Colapinto ban demand ‘too harsh’

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