![\"\u2018Shouldn\u2019t](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-09-27-020540.png\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFranco Colapinto caused himself, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris to retire from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Image: Fox Sports<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFranco Colapinto caused himself, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris to retire from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Image: Fox Sports<\/p>\n
Norris was caught up in the Turn 1 incident following a Safety Car restart after Colapinto locked his front tyres and collided with teammate Pierre Gasly, sending the Frenchman into the McLaren.<\/p>\n
All three drivers were forced to retire, ending what had already been a difficult afternoon for Norris after struggling with McLaren\u2019s straight-line speed throughout the race.<\/p>\n
The reigning world champion was scathing afterwards, suggesting some drivers did not deserve to be competing in Formula 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just slow. Just struggling a lot in the straights. I mean you saw how quickly everyone came past me. So just an impossible race out there for me from that side and straight line speed today,\u201d Norris told Sky Sports F1.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo hopefully we get that fixed for next time. But otherwise, I still made the mistake. And at the end of the day I just got taken out. So just some drivers that shouldn\u2019t be in Formula 1 to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norris went further when speaking to written media after the race, calling for the FIA to take stronger action against incidents of that nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve not seen it. I just got taken out. I think the FIA should be stricter and start handing out bans for this kind of stuff,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s careless from people. It costs a lot of money; all my parts are in the bin now. People should just get banned, because that\u2019s not driving that deserves to be in Formula 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Formula 1, I think you expect drivers to anticipate things. Grip is going to be low; tyre temps are low; they weren\u2019t even that low.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Formula 1, we want to be against the best drivers in the world, and when stuff like this happens, it\u2019s because [they] shouldn\u2019t be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve not seen it, but if you cause a crash in a restart like this, you should have at least a one-race ban.\u201d<\/p>\n
The retirement was Norris\u2019 first since Monaco and ended an eight-race run of points finishes, while it also contributed to McLaren\u2019s third scoreless grand prix of the season.<\/p>\n
Norris had earlier locked up at Turn 1 himself and dropped behind Gasly and Kimi Antonelli before the Safety Car gave him an opportunity to recover on the softer compound.<\/p>\n
He made ground at the restart before becoming an innocent victim of the collision between the Alpine teammates.<\/p>\n
Colapinto immediately accepted responsibility for the incident and apologised to both Gasly and Norris, as well as the wider Alpine team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big mistake. So big sorry to Pierre and to everyone in the factory that has been working really hard, We lost a lot of positions,\u201d Colapinto told Sky Sports F1.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were with both cars in the points. So very sad and disappointed. So big sorry.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a big mistake. Cold brakes, cold tyres, and locked up and completely out of control. So unfortunately I took Pierre out. And Lando of course.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut yeah, big sorry to both.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colapinto was initially given a 10-second penalty for causing the collision, although with the Argentine failing to finish the race it was converted into a five place grid penalty for the next round.<\/p>\n
The incident was particularly costly for Alpine, with both cars running in the points before the crash while midfield rival Racing Bulls went on to score heavily.<\/p>\n
Gasly said Alpine had been enjoying one of its strongest races of the season before the double retirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, trying to find my words. It\u2019s yeah, not easy. We did a very good weekend and the car was one of the best race car we\u2019ve had this season. And the pace was great,\u201d Gasly told Sky Sports F1.<\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping up with Lewis and Lando for most of the race. And we had a, I think, 14 or 15 second gap to the midfield. So I think a lot of positives to take away.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m still struggling to process the outcome and the fact that we had both both cars in the points and in the end we get outscored by Racing Bulls by a lot of points. So not an ideal day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to move on from it. And unfortunately, we\u2019ve lost out today. And hopefully we can make it up until the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the disappointment in Baku, Norris pointed to McLaren\u2019s recent form as reason for optimism ahead of the next race in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean we won two and should have won three of the last four races. So plenty of positives. Obviously not this weekend. Not quick enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we knew that. We\u2019re going to be in for another tough few weekends I imagine. But maybe Malaysia is a better one for us.\u201d<\/p>\n