The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit delivered the drama we've come to expect: controversial incidents, teammate collisions, and the closest finish since 2002. The reigning world champion called for another driver to be banned, while the stewards' decisions drew criticism. Here's what we learned from the weekend in Baku.
Criticism of F1's Penalty System
The stewards' decision to give Franco Colapinto only a five-place grid penalty for his role in the first safety car restart drew criticism. Many drivers, including Lando Norris, felt the Alpine driver deserved a race ban. However, the stewards opted for a lighter punishment as the FIA now focuses on the offence rather than the outcome. Unfortunately, penalty points, which should serve as a tool to punish repeat offenders, are no longer given for ordinary collisions. This undermines the effectiveness of a system designed to prevent recidivism.
Lindblad Controversy and Team Policy
Another controversial decision was the exoneration of Arvid Lindblad, who collided with his Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson at the same restart. Lindblad escaped punishment, with the justification being the knock-on effect of Colapinto's crash. However, replays showed he was also at fault. This revived the unofficial policy that stewards are reluctant to penalise teammate-on-teammate collisions.
Alpine and the Shadow of Internal Sanctions
Although the FIA has imposed a penalty, Colapinto's future at Alpine remains uncertain. Team boss Flavio Briatore expressed strong dissatisfaction in an official team release, emphasising that the incident damaged the team's constructors' championship position. Alpine is in a tight battle with Racing Bulls for fifth place, and this incident could have a significant impact on the season's outcome. Briatore is reportedly furious and may take internal action.
Closest Finish and Title Fight
Beyond the penalty drama, the 2026 Azerbaijan GP also featured the closest finish since 2002, with just thousandths of a second separating the winner and runner-up. This result further intensifies the world championship battle. Meanwhile, the incidents in Baku serve as a reminder that street circuit racing demands precision and bravery.
With a series of controversies and on-track action, the 2026 Azerbaijan GP will be remembered as one of the most dramatic races in recent years. The stewards' decisions and team reactions will continue to be discussed until the next round in Malaysia.
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