Alpine condemns online abuse of Norris after Azerbaijan GP collision

Alpine has condemned online abuse directed at Lando Norris and other members of the Formula One community following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, according to The Guardian. The intervention came after Norris criticised Franco Colapinto over a collision that ended the races of the defending world champion and both Alpine drivers in Baku on Saturday.

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The Guardian reported that Colapinto locked up approaching the first corner during a safety-car restart and hit his teammate Pierre Gasly. Gasly was then pushed into Norris, with all three forced to retire. Mercedes driver George Russell won the race. Colapinto accepted responsibility and apologised afterwards, and was given a five-place grid penalty for the next round in Malaysia.

Norris argued after the incident that driving of that standard did not belong in Formula One and called for at least a one-race suspension for causing such a restart crash. His demand was separate from the grid penalty imposed on Colapinto. The subsequent abuse appeared to come from supporters of the Argentinian driver, The Guardian reported, rather than establishing the identity of everyone involved.

In its statement, Alpine condemned hostility towards one of its own drivers as well as media figures and rival competitors. The team said online abuse had become a recurring problem at recent races and expressed support for efforts by Formula One, the FIA and other teams to address it. Its response extended beyond the criticism aimed at Norris after the Baku collision.

The issue had already affected Alpine before the Azerbaijan race. Gasly had spoken out about abuse following an incident in which he held up Colapinto late in the Spanish Grand Prix. Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore subsequently warned that he could stop Colapinto's interviews with Argentinian media if the hostility towards Gasly continued, according to The Guardian's account of the buildup to Baku.

Colapinto himself had again condemned online harassment before the race, recalling abuse aimed at Yuki Tsunoda and at stewards who penalised him after the Dutch Grand Prix. He said he had visited the stewards following that episode and wanted the behaviour to stop. The FIA launched its United Against Online Abuse campaign in 2023 to tackle harassment across sport.