Imagine your Formula 1 dream crashing down in the blink of an eye, your home race ruined by a first-lap incident. That’s exactly what happened to Gabriel Bortoleto at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and while he’s taking the high road, another driver isn’t holding back his frustration. Franco Colapinto has launched a stinging criticism of Lance Stroll, accusing him of being a persistent hazard on the track, particularly after a collision that ended Bortoleto’s race prematurely.
The incident occurred at the Bico de Pato corner on the opening lap. Bortoleto, eager to gain positions in front of his home crowd, found himself tangled with Stroll. The contact sent Bortoleto’s Sauber careening into the wall, ending his race before it truly began. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about one incident, but a perceived pattern of behavior.
Colapinto, an Alpine driver who had a close view of the crash, didn’t mince words. He stated that Stroll is “just always taking people out, just not looking in the mirrors, leaving no track, and he put Gabi in the wall. It’s what he does every time.” Colapinto’s frustration seems to stem from a belief that Stroll’s driving is often careless and causes avoidable collisions.
But here’s where it gets controversial… Bortoleto himself has downplayed the incident, calling it a racing incident and refusing to place blame on Stroll. “It was a good start, I overtook two cars, it was Lewis [Hamilton] and Colapinto in the outside of six,” Bortoleto explained. “And then Lance, I was just side by side with him out of nine. There’s no pointing fingers here. I think, you know, just lap one and I was in the outside. He opened a little bit more than what there was of space there. He clipped my front tyre and I ended up in the wall.” He even went on to say, “Every time I fight with him, he’s fair with me. So it’s just racing.” Bortoleto’s gracious response highlights the often complex and nuanced nature of racing incidents.
For Bortoleto, the crash compounded what was already a difficult weekend. He had previously been involved in a significant crash during Saturday’s sprint race, further impacting his chances at his home Grand Prix. “Tough weekend,” Bortoleo admitted. “Weekend to forget and move on.” Despite the setbacks, Bortoleto is focusing on the positives, appreciating the support from his home country and vowing to learn from his mistakes. He’s quoted as saying it’s “more painful because it’s my home race, but it’s just another weekend.”
So, what are we to make of this? Was Stroll truly at fault, as Colapinto suggests, or was it simply an unavoidable consequence of the high-stakes, high-speed environment of Formula 1, as Bortoleto seems to believe? This incident highlights the inherent dangers and the constant debates surrounding racing etiquette and driver responsibility. Could Stroll have done more to avoid the collision, or was Bortoleto taking an unnecessary risk on the opening lap? And perhaps more broadly, is there a pattern of such incidents involving Stroll, or is Colapinto’s criticism simply an overreaction? Share your thoughts – do you think Stroll is unfairly targeted, or is there a legitimate concern about his driving style?