Dispute erupts between Lando Norris and Argentine minister
Argentina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Pablo Quirno, has taken aim at British star Lando Norris following the world champion’s criticism of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto, reports BritPanorama.
Norris expressed frustration after Colapinto caused a series of collisions at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leading to Norris’ retirement and the loss of crucial championship points. The incident unfolded during a safety car restart when Colapinto collided with Pierre Gasly, resulting in Gasly crashing into Norris’ McLaren.
After the race, Norris called for a penalty for Colapinto, stating that his driving “did not deserve to be in Formula One.” Quirno responded by highlighting Norris’ own past incident, where he crashed into teammate Oscar Piastri during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. Quirno took to social media to remark, “Sure, Lando Norris called for a penalty for the driver who crashed into Oscar Piastri in Montreal 2025. Ah, no… right.”
Norris had been running in eighth place when the crash occurred, costing him vital championship points. In his post-race comments, he asserted, “If you cause a crash on a restart like this, you should have at least a one-race ban. It is just careless. It costs a lot of money; all my parts are in the bin now.” He added that expectations in Formula One should include an understanding of grip and tire temperatures during restarts.
In contrast, George Russell, who won the Grand Prix, defended Colapinto, suggesting that a ban would be “too harsh.” He indicated that mistakes can happen in racing, especially during safety car restarts when conditions can change rapidly. Russell noted, “Safety car restarts, cold tyres, and a very small mistake can have very big consequences, and that’s what happened today.”
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor at Alpine, also expressed disappointment regarding Colapinto’s actions, labeling it a “very poor move.” He stated, “Obviously I’m extremely disappointed with the outcome of today’s race, knowing we lost valuable points in the Championship fight.” Briatore acknowledged Colapinto’s responsibility and emphasized the need for reflection to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In the competitive atmosphere of Formula One, the tension between Norris and Quirno highlights how quickly the stakes can rise, a reminder of the fine line drivers walk between fierce ambition and the pressures of their sport.
