World Champion Lando Norris hypocritical? Politician sparks wave of hatred

The situation: a restart at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but Alpine driver Franco Colapinto misjudges his braking for Turn 1, he’s far too fast, desperately dives for the inside, then slides straight on with locked wheels, where – of all things – he hits the car of his team-mate Pierre Gasly, who in turn is nudged into Lando Norris’s car – game over for all three.

Afterwards, Lando Norris’s anger knew no bounds. The 2025 F1 World Champion was fuming: “That sort of driving has no place in the premier class; Colapinto should be banned for a race.”

What followed was predictable: a great deal of online vitriol, mostly from the hot-blooded Argentine fans; some of them, unfortunately, have a rather short fuse when it comes to anything involving their favourite, Colapinto.

It didn’t help matters that the Argentine Foreign Minister, Pablo Quirno (60), felt compelled to weigh in on X. The politician shared a picture of Norris ramming into Piastri, who was driving ahead of him, in Montreal in 2025, and the Argentine accused Norris of hypocrisy when he wrote: “Of course, Lando Norris also called for a penalty for the driver who crashed into Oscar Piastri in Montreal in 2025. Oh, no, he didn’t.”

This fuelled the anger of other armchair critics in Argentina, who hide away in the privacy of their own homes behind their laptops and keyboards to spread hate and incitement – usually, of course, anonymously.

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The backlash became so intense that Alpine (not for the first time) felt compelled to issue a statement.

The French team wrote: “As a team, we feel it is necessary to comment once again on the expressions of hatred and insults circulating online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.”

“These were directed not only at one of our own drivers, but also at members of the Formula 1 community, including the media, as well as at our fellow drivers, whom we respect, admire and enjoy competing against at the pinnacle of motorsport.”

“Mistakes happen when driving at the limit, and regardless of the result or outcome, no one should be subjected to hateful or abusive comments.”

“Condemning abuse on social media is not directed against any particular fanbase or the supporters of any specific team or driver; this is a widespread problem and should be denounced and recognised by all fans of the sport.”

“As we have said in previous cases, we condemn in the strongest possible terms the reactions of some fans online and stand in solidarity with Formula 1, the FIA and other teams in their efforts to put an end to this. This has become a regular occurrence in recent races and can no longer be tolerated.”

“We are aware that, as a proud participant and stakeholder in this sport, we have a responsibility to speak out and also to help find a solution.”

“We will continue to work closely with the championship’s organiser and rights holder, as well as the governing body, to discuss ways in which we can tackle online abuse and promote healthy sporting competition – something for which Formula 1 is renowned and which makes it so special.”

Fine words. But perhaps it is time for Franco Colapinto, who is so celebrated in Argentina, to address his fans and speak to them plainly.