Colapinto hit with five-place grid penalty for Bahrain GP in Malaysia after Baku collision

Franco Colapinto has been given a five-place grid penalty for next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia after causing a multi-car incident at the Baku City Circuit on Saturday.

Colapinto was attempting to make up ground during the first Safety Car restart on Lap 36/51 when he went too deep at Turn 1, taking out both Alpine team mate Pierre Gasly and the McLaren of Lando Norris.

After reviewing the footage and data available to them, the stewards determined that Colapinto “was wholly or predominantly to blame for the collision”, and thus handed out a penalty.

Given that Colapinto also retired from the race, a 10-second time penalty will instead be converted into a drop of five grid positions at the Sepang International Circuit.

“Following the restart, COL approached GAS from behind into Turn 1,” read the stewards’ decision document. “COL braked too late and entered the corner on the inside at a speed which did not allow him to make the corner in a controlled manner. He overshot the corner and made contact with the left-hand side of GAS, who then hit NOR and both cars retired.

“The stewards considered that COL was wholly or predominantly to blame for the collision. Although the incident occurred at the first corner following the restart, there was no contribution from another driver which would justify applying the first-lap/first corner more linient approach.

“The standard penalty for causing a collision is a 10-second time penalty. As COL had retired from the race and was therefore unable to serve the time penalty, the stewards converted the penalty to a drop of five grid positions at the next race in which the driver participates, in accordance which Article B1.9.6.(e) of the FIA FIA 2026 F1 Regulations.”

Speaking to the media following the incident, and before the stewards dished out their penalty, Colapinto offered apologies to Gasly, Norris and his Alpine team.

“Just [a] bit of disappointment, for myself, for the team,” he said. “Just a big sorry to all of them, to the factory, to Pierre of course. [I] took him out, so [I’m] really disappointed. We were both in a position to score points, [it] was a big day for the team and [I] did a big mistake. A big sorry, it shouldn’t happen.”

Giving his verdict, Gasly added: “I don’t think I really have words and I don’t need the words now. We’ll manage it together as a team. I’m obviously very disappointed for all the guys, P7 and P10 was a very good race, good pace. Honestly, I have no idea how to answer your question. [We’ve] got to move on.”

Norris, meanwhile, summed up: “I just got taken out… just some drivers that shouldn’t be in F1, to be honest.”