HE SHOULDN’T BE IN F1! LANDO NORRIS SPARKS A HUGE F1 STORM WITH BLUNT WORDS ABOUT FRANCO COLAPINTO AFTER CRASH — BAN DEBATE ERUPTS AS TENSIONS BOIL OVER! Lando Norris has ignited controversy after reportedly calling for Franco Colapinto to be banned following a crash, with the explosive phrase “Shouldn’t be in F1” sending the story into overdrive. The incident has put Colapinto’s driving under intense scrutiny and reignited the fierce debate over responsibility, safety and the consequences of mistakes at the highest level of motorsport. With emotions running high, Norris’s reported remarks have added another flashpoint to an already unforgiving F1 environment. One crash, one brutal verdict, and a controversy that has put both drivers under the spotlight.

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LANDO NORRIS DEMANDS FIA BAN AFTER BAKU CRASH — ‘SOME DRIVERS SHOULDN’T BE IN F1’ AS CHAMPION’S RACE ENDS IN ANGER

Lando Norris interview

Lando Norris was left furious after a dramatic chain reaction at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix ended his race in the barriers — and the reigning world champion did not hold back in his response.

The McLaren star called on Formula 1 chiefs to take tougher action against Franco Colapinto after the Alpine driver’s mistake triggered a collision involving Pierre Gasly and Norris. His demand was blunt: incidents of this kind should carry a one-race ban.

THE LOCK-UP THAT DESTROYED NORRIS’S RACE

The incident unfolded at Turn 1 during one of two safety-car restarts in Baku.

Colapinto locked up and collided with Alpine team-mate Gasly, who was then sent into Norris. The impact forced the McLaren driver into the wall, ending a race in which he had started fifth and been aiming for a points finish.

It was a miserable result for McLaren. Oscar Piastri had also endured a disastrous afternoon, dropping to 14th after running wide when he had been targeting the team’s first podium since May.

Norris admitted he had struggled with straight-line speed and made mistakes of his own, but his anger was directed squarely at the incident that forced his retirement.

“I just got taken out… just some drivers that shouldn’t be in F1, to be honest,” he said.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 26: Franco Colapinto of Argentina driving the (43) Alpine A526 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 26, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)

NORRIS CALLS FOR A ONE-RACE BAN

Speaking to the written media, Norris urged the FIA to impose a stronger punishment on Colapinto, although he acknowledged that he had not yet watched the incident himself.

“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,” he said.

He added that the FIA should become stricter about handing out bans for such incidents.

The comments put the spotlight on how aggressively officials should punish mistakes during safety-car restarts, when drivers are fighting for position and the consequences of a lock-up can be immediate.

COLAPINTO APOLOGISES AS GASLY LOOKS AHEAD

Colapinto accepted responsibility for the collision and apologised to his team and Gasly.

“I took him out, so really disappointed,” the Argentine said. “We were both in a position to score points, was a big day for the team and I did a big mistake. Big sorry, it shouldn’t happen.”

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 26: Franco Colapinto of Argentina and Alpine F1 on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 26, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images)

Gasly, meanwhile, admitted he was struggling to find the words after Alpine’s hopes of securing a double points finish disappeared. He said the team would deal with the incident together and focus on moving forward.

With Baku marking the start of a triple-header, attention was already turning to the next race weekend.

But Norris’s demand for a ban left a bigger question hanging over the fallout: should a mistake that ruins another driver’s race lead to a suspension, or is the existing penalty system enough?