Norris backlash explodes after Colapinto crash

The furore surrounding reigning F1 champion Lando Norris began after he was taken out in a multi-car crash involving Colapinto in Baku. At a safety-car restart in the middle of the race, the Argentine eliminated his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, Norris and even damaged championship-leader Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.

Norris reacted furiously after the race, saying Colapinto “shouldn’t be in F1”. And he called for an immediate race ban. But the reaction to his comments have spread far beyond the confines of the paddock …  

NORRIS BACKLASH SPREADS

Even Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno weighed in on X, mocking Norris by referring back to the collision with Oscar Piastri in Montreal last year.

“Sure, Lando Norris called for a penalty for the driver who crashed into Oscar Piastri in Montreal 2025. Ah, no… right,” he posted.

Argentine fans have also flooded Norris’ social media accounts, continuing a pattern already seen after the last Gasly-Colapinto controversy in Madrid. Alpine has now issued another formal statement condemning online abuse.

“Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments,” it reads.

Former F1 driver Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf that Norris should probably stay away from Instagram for a while. “I would advise him not to go on Instagram for the next few days,” he said. He was referring to one post which has attracted a staggering 35 000 comments.

“But what those Argentinians do on social media… it goes too far,” added the Dutchman. Nevertheless, he also thought Norris had gone too far in his criticism. “Norris absolutely tore into him. He said Colapinto should be banned, and that he doesn’t belong in Formula 1. I think he went a bit too far,” he said.

Despite the criticism of Norris, there is broad agreement that abuse from Argentine fans has gone too far. Alpine said it will continue working with Formula 1 and the FIA on ways to combat online abuse, which it says has become an, “all too regular occurrence in recent races.”

But what do you think? Do you agree with Norris that Colapinto should be banned after the crash? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below – with GMM