Lando Norris said Franco Colapinto should receive a race ban for the collision that wiped him and Pierre Gasly out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
At the first Safety Car restart on lap 36, Colapinto badly misjudged his braking into the first corner and, carrying too much speed, steamed into the side of Alpine team-mate Gasly, whose car was sent into Norris’ McLaren on its outside.
Norris was spun into the barriers, with the two Alpines also forced to retire with damage. Gasly had been running seventh, Norris eighth and Colapinto 10th.
A frustrated Norris said: “At the end of the day, I just got taken out.
“Just some drivers that shouldn’t be in Formula 1, to be honest.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking to the written media, the reigning world champion added: “I’ve not seen it, but if you cause a crash in a restart like this, you should have at least a one-race ban.
“I just got taken out. And the FIA should be stricter by starting to hand out bans for this kind of stuff.”
Lando Norris (McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, United Kingdom, #01) in the MCL40, Pierre Gasly (BWT Alpine F1 Team, France, #10) in the Alpine A526, Franco Colapinto (BWT Alpine F1 Team, Argentina, #43) in the Alpine A526 with an accident in Turn 1
Colapinto was apologetic on both team radio and then in his interviews afterwards for what he admitted was a “big mistake”.
“Just to all the team, not only to Pierre, but it’s just a big mistake,” said Colapinto.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“So a big, big sorry to Pierre, to everyone in the factory that has been working really hard. We were with both cars in the points so very sad and disappointed.
“Big, big sorry, it’s a big mistake. Just cold brakes, cold tyres and locked up and completely out of control.
“Unfortunately, I also took Pierre out and Lando of course but big sorry to both of them.”
More to follow…
Formula 1 heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit – watch live coverage from Friday morning, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime