Argentinian politician Pablo Quirno has accused reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris of hypocrisy following his call for a ban on Franco Colapinto after the driver caused a multi-car crash during a safety car restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The incident eliminated both Norris and his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly from the race.
Colapinto accepted full responsibility for the collision, apologizing for being “out of control” and admitting he made a significant mistake. Despite this, Norris insisted that the FIA should impose stricter punishments for such reckless behavior. He said, “The FIA should be more strict and start handing out bans for this kind of stuff,” adding that drivers who cause similar crashes don’t belong in Formula 1 and deserve at least a one-race suspension.
In response, Argentina’s Foreign Affairs Minister Pablo Quirno criticized Norris on social media, highlighting a previous incident where Norris himself collided with his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix without facing penalties. Quirno’s comments have sparked a wave of reactions from Argentinian fans, flooding Norris’s social media channels despite his last post being days earlier.
Meanwhile, Alpine’s executive Flavio Briatore apologized to Norris and McLaren for Colapinto’s mistake and mentioned that the team is reviewing the situation to decide on any further action. Briatore emphasized that Colapinto’s late braking in the context of a safety car restart was unacceptable for a driver with his level of experience.
Fan Take: This controversy highlights the ongoing challenges in enforcing consistent penalties in Formula 1, which is crucial for maintaining fairness and safety on track. Racing fans will be watching closely to see if the FIA strengthens its disciplinary measures, as stricter enforcement could lead to cleaner racing and fewer dangerous incidents in the future.
Source: www.crash.net
