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via RacingNews365Franco Colapinto compared to Max Verstappen in major mistake defenceFranco Colapinto has been compared to Max Verstappen by Juan Pablo Montoya, who defended Colapinto's actions during a restart crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Colapinto was penalised for causing a multi-car collision, which included his teammate Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, after he misjudged his braking point.
Montoya explained that Colapinto's aggressive instincts, similar to those of Verstappen, led to the incident. He acknowledged the challenges drivers face during restarts, particularly with the bunching of cars and varying braking points. Despite the crash, Montoya expressed admiration for Colapinto's willingness to seize opportunities on the track.
Mon 28 Sep · 08:40 UTC
via f1technical.netBriatore: "It was a very poor move for a driver of his experience"Alpine faced a disappointing end to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto retired after a collision at the first corner following a Safety Car restart. Colapinto, who was running too fast on cold tyres, locked up and hit Gasly, leading to both drivers retiring from the race. Colapinto accepted responsibility for the incident and received a 10-second penalty, which will convert to a five-place grid drop for the next race.
Gasly expressed frustration over the lost opportunity for points, despite having a competitive performance prior to the incident. Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore also voiced his disappointment, highlighting the importance of learning from the mistake. The team now looks to regroup and carry their strong pace into the upcoming race in Sepang.
Mon 28 Sep · 07:00 UTC
via RaceFansFeatured Comment: Abusive element in Colapinto’s fanbase are a liability to him | BriefFranco Colapinto, an Alpine driver in Formula 1, is facing backlash as a segment of his fanbase has been involved in abusive online behaviour. This has led to condemnation from his team, who are concerned that the focus on such negativity may overshadow Colapinto's on-track performance.
The situation echoes a past incident in IndyCar where a driver lost their seat due to similar issues with fan abuse. There are growing concerns that Colapinto could face a similar fate if the abusive behaviour continues, impacting his career in Formula 1.
Sun 27 Sep · 18:50 UTC
via the-race.comF1's penalty points system has a big blindspotFranco Colapinto's recent crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix has highlighted significant flaws in Formula 1's penalty points system. After losing control of his Alpine and colliding with team-mate Pierre Gasly, which also took out Lando Norris, Colapinto received a 10-second penalty that he could not serve due to his retirement from the race. Instead, he will face a five-place grid penalty at the next race in Malaysia, a decision that has drawn mixed reactions from fellow drivers regarding its fairness and severity.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion among drivers about the effectiveness of the penalty points system, which was designed to deter repeat offenders. Currently, no penalty points have been issued for collisions this season, raising concerns that the system is not adequately addressing dangerous driving. Many believe that the absence of penalty points for such incidents represents a significant oversight, as it sets a concerning precedent for future races.
Sun 27 Sep · 15:01 UTC
via espn.comNorris targeted with online abuse, called for banLando Norris has been targeted with significant online abuse after he urged Formula 1 to impose a ban on Franco Colapinto, following a collision that led to a three-car pile-up during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident forced Norris to retire from the race, prompting backlash from Colapinto's supporters on social media.
In response to the abuse, Colapinto's team, Alpine, issued a statement condemning the hate directed not only at Norris but also at other members of the Formula 1 community. They emphasised the need to address online abuse and promote healthy competition within the sport. Following the race, Norris's championship hopes appear diminished as he trails Kimi Antonelli by 116 points, while George Russell's victory has positioned him as Antonelli's primary title challenger.
Sun 27 Sep · 12:20 UTC
via RacingNews365Alpine condemns online abuse after Norris and ColapintoAlpine has issued a statement condemning online abuse directed at Lando Norris and their driver Franco Colapinto following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This marks another instance of the team speaking out against the negative behaviour of fans after Colapinto's involvement in a multi-car incident.+ 6 moreSun 27 Sep · 11:49 UTC39.webp)
via Formula1.comGeorge Russell and Franco Colapinto shine in BakuGeorge Russell and Franco Colapinto were highlighted as key performers at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, each achieving notable results for their respective teams. Meanwhile, Alpine faced significant challenges during the race, marking a disappointing weekend for the team.
+ 2 moreSun 27 Sep · 10:13 UTC
via the-race.comGary Anderson: Alpine should handle Colapinto action, not the FIAGary Anderson argues that Alpine should take responsibility for Franco Colapinto's actions following his crash involving team-mate Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Flavio Briatore, Alpine's team boss, has stated he will consider what course of action to take regarding Colapinto, who already faces a five-place grid penalty for the incident.
Anderson reflects on the importance of teams maintaining discipline among drivers and suggests that the responsibility for reprimands should lie with the team rather than the FIA. He also critiques Norris's demand for a race ban for Colapinto, noting that such incidents are common in racing and should be addressed internally by the team.Sun 27 Sep · 09:32 UTC
via Motorsport.comRussell and Verstappen criticise Norris on Colapinto banGeorge Russell and Max Verstappen have described Lando Norris's suggestion that Franco Colapinto should receive a race ban as too harsh. The comments follow Colapinto's incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he collided with Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Norris.
+ 1 moreSun 27 Sep · 09:12 UTC
via CrashCould Alpine bench Franco Colapinto for Malaysia and who could replace him?Alpine is contemplating disciplinary action against Franco Colapinto following a significant crash during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he took out both his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. Flavio Briatore, Alpine's chief, expressed his disappointment and indicated that the team would reflect on the situation to determine appropriate measures, which could range from a warning to benching Colapinto for the upcoming race in Malaysia.
If Alpine decides to replace Colapinto, their options are limited to reserve drivers Paul Aron and Kush Maini, with Aron likely being the preferred choice due to his experience in Formula 1 practice sessions. Other potential candidates include Daniil Kvyat and Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti, but there are concerns about their performance compared to Colapinto, who has contributed significantly to the team's points this season.
Sun 27 Sep · 08:53 UTC
via PlanetF12026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix driver ratings releasedThe driver ratings for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix have been published, highlighting George Russell's near-perfect performance. Franco Colapinto received criticism for what was described as the ultimate motorsport sin during the race.
+ 2 moreSun 27 Sep · 08:08 UTC
via racer.comLando Norris calls for ban on Franco ColapintoLando Norris has called for a ban on Franco Colapinto following an incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where Colapinto triggered a multi-car crash during the restart. Norris stated that drivers responsible for such accidents should face severe consequences.
via espn.comAlpine to weigh 'course of action' after double DNFAlpine Racing is set to review its options following a double retirement at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Franco Colapinto's error led to both him and teammate Pierre Gasly crashing out. The incident occurred during a safety car restart, impacting their chances for points as both cars were in competitive positions.
Flavio Briatore, Alpine's team principal, expressed disappointment over the incident, stating that such mistakes should not happen, especially when both cars were performing well. Colapinto acknowledged his responsibility for the crash, apologising to his team and Gasly, while Norris suggested that Colapinto should face a race ban for his actions.Sat 26 Sep · 18:47 UTC
via espn.comNorris hits out after Baku pile-up DNF with AlpineLando Norris expressed his frustration after being taken out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to a collision caused by Franco Colapinto. Following the incident, Norris stated that there are drivers who do not belong in Formula 1, implying that Colapinto's actions were unacceptable. The crash occurred during a Safety Car restart on lap 36, leading to both Norris and Pierre Gasly retiring from the race.
Colapinto acknowledged his mistake and accepted responsibility, apologising to his team and teammates. He received a 10-second time penalty, which will affect his grid position in the next race. Gasly, visibly upset, highlighted the significant points lost due to the incident, while also emphasising the importance of respect in their working relationship.Sat 26 Sep · 15:51 UTC
via the-race.comFranco Colapinto apologises for Azerbaijan GP crashFranco Colapinto has expressed regret for his actions during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he collided with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren's Lando Norris. The incident occurred during a safety car restart, resulting in both drivers being taken out of the race.+ 3 moreSat 26 Sep · 15:46 UTC
via RaceFansLiam Lawson questions lack of penalty for Arvid LindbladLiam Lawson expressed confusion over the decision not to penalise his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad for their collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The FIA clarified that no further action was taken against Lindblad, which left Lawson bemused.+ 6 moreSat 26 Sep · 15:45 UTC
via CrashFranco Colapinto receives grid penalty for Baku crashFranco Colapinto has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the Malaysian Grand Prix following a collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that involved Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris. Alpine chief Flavio Briatore has expressed disappointment over Colapinto's actions, describing them as a 'very poor move' that impacted the team's performance.+ 4 moreSat 26 Sep · 15:43 UTC
via AutosportBriatore to reflect on necessary action after Colapinto's "poor" Baku blunderFlavio Briatore, the Alpine Formula 1 chief, expressed his disappointment with Franco Colapinto's actions during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Colapinto collided with his teammate Pierre Gasly, resulting in both drivers retiring from the race. Briatore described the incident as a 'very poor move' and acknowledged the loss of valuable championship points for the team.
Colapinto's crash occurred during a restart on lap 36, where he locked his front tyres and crashed into Gasly, also affecting Lando Norris. Briatore stated that he would reflect on the incident and consider necessary actions to prevent similar occurrences in the future, while Colapinto has taken full responsibility for his mistake.
Sat 26 Sep · 15:38 UTC
via Motorsport.comFlavio Briatore criticises Franco Colapinto's Baku errorFlavio Briatore has expressed his disappointment with Franco Colapinto following a costly incident during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Alpine chief hinted at potential consequences for Colapinto after his 'very poor' move that affected the team's chances for a double points finish.+ 4 moreSat 26 Sep · 15:36 UTC
via RacingNews365Franco Colapinto hit with further penalty after Azerbaijan calamityFranco Colapinto has been handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix following a collision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident involved Colapinto crashing into his teammate Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris, resulting in both drivers retiring from the race and Colapinto himself also retiring shortly after.
Initially, Colapinto received a standard 10-second time penalty for causing the collision. However, since he retired before he could serve the penalty, it was converted into a grid drop for the next race. Despite this incident, Colapinto managed to avoid accumulating additional points on his superlicence, keeping his total at four.Sat 26 Sep · 15:33 UTCPage 1 of 5