World champion Lando Norris on Saturday said Alpine's Franco Colapinto should face a race ban for causing the crash that took him out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The frustrated 26-year-old McLaren driver, running in the top 10, added that his race was wrecked by "some drivers who shouldn't be in F1."
Colapinto apologised to both Norris and his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly for his error when he crashed into them on lap 35 after a re-start following a Safety Car intervention.
He smashed into his team-mate Gasly, who then hit Norris' McLaren, wiping all three out of the race.
"It was a big mistake and I am really sorry," the Argentine said. "Very sad and very disappointed."
Norris said: "I think the [ruling body] FIA should be more strict and start handing out bans for this kind of stuff. It's just careless from people.
"It costs a lot of money -– all my car parts are in the bin now. People should just be banned because that's not driving that deserves to be in Formula One."
Norris declined to support claims that race leader George Russell of Mercedes had been too slow on the re-start and allowed the field to bunch up too much.
"George can do what he wants," he said. "In Formula One, I think you expect drivers to anticipate things, to know the grip is going to be low and to know the tyre temperatures are low...
"And they weren't even that low! In F1, you want to be against the best drivers in the world and when stuff like this happens, it's because... well, he shouldn't be there."
Briatore's take
Alpine team boss Flavio Briatore said he will reflect before deciding what action to take after Colapinto's "rush of blood" crash.
It cost Alpine a solid points haul. Norris called for a one-race ban for Colapinto but race stewards settled for a 10-second time penalty, converted into a five-place grid drop for the next race.
"I feel very sorry for the team and for Pierre and my apologies also go to Lando and McLaren for ruining their race," said Briatore.
"I know that Franco has taken full responsibility for it, as he should -- he braked far too late considering the context of the race and the safety car restart. It was a very poor move for a driver of his experience.
"I want to take time to reflect and consider what action should be taken."
The Argentine driver kept his seat this year but Briatore will likely alternatives for 2027.
Colapinto admitted: "I was completely out of control. So, not a lot more to say than sorry to the team, to Pierre and of course to all in the factory. I'm sorry to Lando also..."
Norris added: "It was a tough race. I was slow on the straights and it was an impossible race with the straight-line speeds.
"At the end of the day, I got taken out – just some drivers shouldn't be in F1 to be honest. Maybe Malaysia will be better for us."
Gasly said: "It was one of the best race cars of the season and we had both of us in the points.
"It is not easy [with a team-mate], but it is all about respect and as long as there is respect everything is possible."
– TIMES/AFP
