Colapinto answers Norris, defends Argentines: “Always targeted” | OneFootball

Franco Colapinto addressed the controversy he was involved in with Lando Norris after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and, ahead of the Malaysian GP, spoke about the criticism he received following the incident that led to the retirement of both Alpines and the Briton’s McLaren.

The Argentine driver admitted that Norris’s comments surprised him, although he felt they were the result of the tension of competition. The Formula 1 champion had harshly criticized Colapinto’s move and called for a penalty for the Argentine. Days later, Norris apologized for his remarks and both drivers considered the matter closed.

“I think he was caught up in the heat of the moment,” Colapinto explained when referring to the McLaren driver’s words. He also recalled that Norris had gone through similar situations with fans and argued that, for that reason, it is important to be careful with the messages sent after a race.

The Argentine also focused on the behavior of fans on social media. In that regard, he questioned the idea that criticism and attacks are associated exclusively with Argentine supporters.

“I think Argentines are always singled out,” Colapinto said, clarifying that aggressive behavior does not come only from that group of fans, but from supporters of different drivers and countries.

The Alpine driver also pointed out that these kinds of situations can affect different members of Formula 1 and said that the drivers themselves have a responsibility to try to improve the atmosphere around the category.

“As drivers, we have the responsibility to try to make it better,” Colapinto explained, while also acknowledging that it is a difficult situation to control because it involves different groups of fans.

Colapinto and Alpine’s support

Beyond the controversy with Norris, Colapinto also spoke about the fallout from the Baku crash within Alpine and the speculation surrounding his future.

The Argentine explained that, after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he quickly got back to work and spent time in the simulator to begin preparing for the next race. According to him, the team reviewed what happened, analyzed the incident, and focused on learning from it.

Meanwhile, Flavio Briatore had been critical of Colapinto’s move after the retirement in Baku, although he later ruled out the possibility of the Argentine being replaced.

At the same time, Pierre Gasly also moved on from the episode and confirmed that there were no lingering issues with his teammate. The Frenchman explained that Colapinto apologized after the crash and stressed that both drivers need to focus on what lies ahead with Alpine.

With the episode now closed for those involved, Colapinto now heads into the Malaysian Grand Prix with his focus on the track and the goal of putting his troubled outing in Azerbaijan behind him.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.