Alpine driver Franco Colapinto said that the days following his accident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix were among the most difficult in his career, after he found himself facing a torrent of criticism on social media following the collision that caused his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren driver Lando Norris to leave the race.
The accident came after the race resumed in Baku behind the safety car, when Colapinto's car's brakes locked at the first turn, causing him to collide with Gasly in an accident whose impact extended to Norris, the holder of the Formula 1 title.
Norris had initially called for Colapinto to be suspended for one race, blaming him for the accident, before he later retracted his statements and confirmed that they were made under the pressure of emotion.
Colapinto told reporters on Thursday before the Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia: “There are moments that are more difficult than others, but the most important thing is that we learn from them and emerge stronger. Drivers and people.”
He added: “...It was one of those experiences that you can only overcome and benefit from.” In the end, these situations are what make you a stronger person.
The 23-year-old Argentine driver took full responsibility for what he described as a “silly mistake” that had “major consequences,” noting that the McLaren drivers, Norris and Oscar Piastri, also suffered from locking up their brakes at the same turn during the race.
He said: “As soon as the contact occurred, I returned to the pit area and took full responsibility.”
Colapinto admitted that he was somewhat surprised by Norris's initial demands to stop him, pointing out that the McLaren driver had been one of the most vocal in the past about the damage caused by online abuse campaigns.
“I think he was speaking out of emotion,” he said. He is well aware of the impact of these comments; Because he went through similar experiences, and he was one of the most prominent drivers who spoke about hatred on social media in recent years.”
The incident sparked a wave of offensive comments online, but Colapinto refused to limit them to his Argentine fans, stressing that “hatred comes from different parts of the world and from multiple audiences.”
He added: “My message has not changed. Sometimes people don't realize how much harm words written behind a screen can cause. We are human beings in the end, and dealing with these matters is not easy.”
Colapinto confirmed that the dispute between him and Norris had become a thing of the past, explaining that they spoke later and that “everything is fine.”
He also praised the head of the Alpine team, Flavio Briatore, describing him as “one of the best managers” he has dealt with in motorsport, denying reports that he was subjected to pressure or the threat of losing his seat.
He said: “Nothing has changed at all, and we look to the future with optimism.”
He concluded by saying: “I am very grateful to be on this team, and for the support I received from everyone, and from Flavio from day one. My relationship with Pierre is also excellent; So things are going well.”
Fernando Alonso said that the extension of his contract with Aston Martin came after a conversation that lasted only five minutes with team owner Lawrence Stroll, in an agreement that will ensure that the two-time world champion continues his career in Formula 1 beyond the age of forty-six.
The Spaniard, who turned 45 in July, signed a new contract that keeps him alongside Canadian Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin lineup for the 2027 season.
Alonso is the oldest current driver on the grid, having competed in 440 races since his debut in the championship in 2001, and won two world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006.
Alonso told reporters today (Thursday): “It was a very simple conversation with Lawrence, and there was not much that needed to be discussed. “We both wanted to continue working, so it didn’t take more than five minutes.”
Despite the ease of reaching an agreement, Alonso admitted that making the decision itself required deeper thinking, noting that he had no guarantees that the 2027 season would be more enjoyable or competitive.
Aston Martin is going through a difficult season as the car suffers from poor performance, as the team only scored three points in 15 rounds, all of them through Alonso, placing it in tenth place among 11 teams.
However, the veteran driver confirms that his passion for competition remains the main driver of his continuation.
He said: “I still feel fast, and I still enjoy what I do. “If I sat at home watching the races on TV, I would think I could do better.”
He added: “This is exactly what I felt during my time away from (Formula 1). “I was watching the races and always thinking: This is not where I should be.”
Alonso believes that his departure from Formula 1 between 2019 and 2021 was a turning point that helped him prolong his career in the world of racing.
“I needed to get away,” he said. “I wanted to try different categories of motorsport and take on new challenges out of curiosity and a desire to learn.”
He added: “It was wonderful to discover different aspects of this sport and learn from the specialists in each championship, which made me a more complete driver.”
He stressed that his ability to adapt to different generations of cars and laws was one of his most prominent strengths, saying: “I drove cars with different engines and lived through Bridgestone, Michelin, and Pirelli tires, and I lived the eras of kinetic energy recovery systems and hybrid systems, in addition to my participation in endurance races and Indy Car. “I always try to benefit from all that experience.”
The family aspect was not lost on his considerations, especially after welcoming his first child with his partner, Melissa Jimenez, earlier this year.
He said with a smile: “She is also suffering this season, and is worried about my health when we are not in the competition circle.” “I think she prefers me to be away from the ring when things don’t go our way.”
