Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has taken full responsibility for a collision at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that involved his teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The incident, which occurred shortly after a safety car restart at turn one, resulted in a crash that eliminated both Gasly and Norris from the race.

Colapinto described the aftermath of the crash as some of the most challenging days of his career, amid intense scrutiny and social media backlash. The 23-year-old admitted that he made a “silly mistake” with significant consequences, but emphasized the importance of learning from the experience to grow both as a driver and as a person.

The crash drew sharp criticism, particularly from Norris, who initially called for Colapinto to receive a one-race ban for causing the collision. Norris later retracted and apologized for those comments, acknowledging that his reaction was made "in the heat of the moment." Colapinto expressed some surprise at Norris’ initial stance, especially given the McLaren driver’s past condemnation of online abuse directed towards himself and others.

Colapinto also commented on the wave of online abuse he received following the accident, noting that negative messages came from fans worldwide, not solely from any single group. He urged for more awareness about the impact of online comments, reminding that "we are all humans" and such hostility affects the drivers personally.

Despite the tense circumstances, Colapinto said he and Norris have since settled their differences through a direct conversation. The Alpine driver highlighted the support he has received from the team’s management, particularly praising Alpine team principal Flavio Briatore. He denied rumors about potential threats to his seat with the team and expressed gratitude for the continued backing from Briatore and his teammates, including Gasly.

Colapinto’s remarks came in the lead-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, signaling his intent to move forward from the incident while focusing on future opportunities with Alpine.