Alpine condemns online abuse after Norris and Colapinto clash in Baku

Alpine has condemned online abuse following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after Lando Norris was targeted over his criticism of Franco Colapinto, according to The Guardian. The defending Formula One world champion had called for a race ban after a collision involving Colapinto ended his afternoon in Baku on Saturday. The newspaper reported that the abuse appeared to come from supporters of the Argentinian driver.

The incident occurred at the first corner following a safety-car restart. Colapinto locked up and hit Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, whose car was pushed into Norris. All three drivers retired from the race, which Mercedes driver George Russell won. Norris subsequently questioned whether driving of that standard belonged in Formula One and argued that causing such a restart collision should carry at least a one-race suspension.

Colapinto apologised after the race and acknowledged responsibility, The Guardian reported. His punishment was a five-place grid penalty for the next round in Malaysia, rather than the suspension Norris had advocated. Alpine’s subsequent statement addressed abuse directed both at its own personnel and at others in the sport, including rival competitors and members of the media.

The team said it stood alongside Formula One, the FIA and other teams in opposing online harassment. It also described the reactions as a recurring problem at recent races. Gasly had already spoken before the Azerbaijan event about abuse he received after holding up Colapinto late in the Spanish Grand Prix, saying online behaviour had repeatedly crossed acceptable boundaries.

Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore had also intervened before the Baku race. According to The Guardian, he warned that Colapinto’s interviews with Argentinian media could be stopped if abuse of Gasly continued. Colapinto himself had again condemned harassment in the build-up to the event, referring to previous abuse of Yuki Tsunoda and of the stewards who penalised him at Zandvoort.

The latest team statement comes amid an existing effort by motorsport’s governing body to address the issue. The FIA launched its United Against Online Abuse campaign in 2023 to combat harassment across sport. The Guardian reported that the initiative secured 400,000 euros in European Union funding in January this year.