​Motorsport photoAlpine driver Franco Colapinto has apologised for the “big mistake” that saw him knock team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren driver Lando Norris out of F1’s Azerbaijan GP.On a lap 36 restart in the streets of Baku, Colapinto locked up his cold front tyres on the low-grip inside line into Turn 1 and clattered into the side of Gasly, with Norris also collected in the incident.The incident cost Alpine a major points haul as both of its drivers were in the top 10, and it capped off a frustrating afternoon for Norris, who called on the FIA to punish careless driving with a race ban.
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Afterwards, Colapinto was devastated by the damage he caused and apologised profusely to his team, to Gasly and to Norris.”Just a big mistake,’ the Argentinian said. “I locked up completely with cold tyres and cold brakes and was out of control completely. So, not a lot to say more than sorry to the team, to Pierre of course, to all the factory.”We’ve been working really hard to score points and I threw it away with that big mistake. So, very sad for the team. Of course, a big disappointment.””We spoke to Pierre, he came back and of course he’s very upset, but I will try to talk to him again.”Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, AlpineFranco Colapinto, Alpine, Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, AlpineWhen put to him that Norris had called for a one-race ban, Colapinto replied: “Well, sorry to Lando as well, to be honest, not only Pierre. Sorry to everyone, it’s a big mistake, of course. I just locked up and then I was very out of control. I couldn’t do a lot. As soon as I touched the brake, I locked up and lost a lot.”Colapinto acknowledged breaking the unwritten rule of not taking out a team-mate made the incident even worse and said he was expecting to get a penalty from the FIA’s race stewards.”It is more than disappointing to take out your team-mate. That’s the biggest part of it,” he added.”If it only affected me, it would be okay to learn, but when it affects the other car as well, it’s even worse. I do expect to get something, of course. I don’t know, I’m not a steward, so I’ll leave it.”
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