Lando Norris subjected to online abuse after calling for Franco Colapinto ban

Lando Norris has received a barrage of abuse. Pic: AP Photo/Pavel Bednyakov

Lando Norris has been subjected to a torrent of online abuse after he called on Formula One to serve Argentine driver Franco Colapinto with a ban.

World champion Norris made the claim after Colapinto triggered a three-car pile-up which forced him to retire from Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

However, Norris’ comments provoked a bombardment of online hate towards the British driver across his social media channels – largely from supporters of Colapinto.

The Alpine driver accepted fault for the collision and will serve a five-place grid penalty at the next round.

Responding to the wave of abuse circulating online, Colapinto’s Alpine team issued a statement to the Press Association on Sunday.

In it they said: “As a team, we feel it’s necessary to speak out once more about the hate and abuse online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Not only aimed at one of our own drivers, but also members of the Formula One community, including media, and to our racing counterparts who we respect, admire, and revel competing against in the pinnacle of motorsport.

“Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments.

“Condemning abuse on social media is not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver, this is universal and should be called out and recognised to all fans of the sport.

“As we have said in previous instances, we strongly condemn the reaction of some fans online and stand in solidarity with Formula One, the FIA, and other teams in wanting to stamp it out. It has become a regular occurrence in recent races and cannot be condoned.

“We know as a proud participant and stakeholder in the sport, we hold a responsibility to speak out and also help support in finding a solution. We will continue to work closely with the championship promoter and rights-holder, and the governing body to discuss ways in which to tackle online abuse and encourage healthy sporting rivalry, which Formula One is renowned for and what makes it so special.”

Norris’ failure to finish in Baku leaves him 116 points behind Kimi Antonelli in the championship standings and his title defence all but over.

George Russell claimed his third win of the season to trim Antonelli’s advantage from 81 points to 66 with a possible 208 still remaining over the eight scheduled rounds.

Russell is now Antonelli’s sole realistic title contender and the Briton will bid to use Saturday’s win as a springboard to continue his championship comeback – starting at next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

However, Antonelli – who said he drove “like my grandmother” in Baku after he crashed in qualifying and finished fifth has warned his Mercedes team-mate he will be back to his best in Sepang.

“He (Russell) has always been my rival, but I will make sure next week I re-establish the order. And make sure I am back at my normal level.

“You always want to win, and I am not happy how I drove this weekend. I could have done, and I should have done a much better job but it was one of those weekends where it didn’t click, I struggled, but it has taught me a lot, I have learnt a lot about myself, especially how to respond to this kind of situation, and it will be much better next weekend.”