Christian Horner stirs Ferrari pot as Lando Norris hits out – International Media Reacts

George Russell claimed victory in a chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku, but the headlines afterwards belonged to Franco Colapinto's Turn 1 collision, a fresh bout of Christian Horner speculation, and Oscar Piastri's escape-road nightmare.

International media dissected a race that turned on a single safety car restart, with McLaren left to count the cost and Ferrari again exposed on the straights.

Check out how the world's media reacted to the Azerbaijan GP below!

🇬🇧 The Telegraph: Christian Horner's Ferrari admission stirs the pot amid Red Bull shareholder talk

The Telegraph reported that Horner has indicated Ferrari is the only team he would consider joining purely as an employee, without seeking an equity stake, reviving questions over his long-term future. 

The paper noted Frederic Vasseur has admitted the constant speculation around Horner has become an unwanted distraction for Ferrari during race weekends. It also referenced reports that Renault rebuffed a Horner-led consortium's approach for a minority stake in Alpine. 

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, was said to have reaffirmed his backing for Vasseur when pressed on the subject.

🇳🇱 De Telegraaf: Norris lashes out hard at Franco Colapinto and calls for a suspension

De Telegraaf reported that Lando Norris demanded a one-race ban for Colapinto after the Argentine's restart lock-up triggered the crash that ended Norris's afternoon. 

The Dutch outlet detailed how Colapinto locked his brakes into Turn 1, hit team-mate Pierre Gasly, and pushed him into the McLaren.

Norris argued such incidents should carry stricter punishment than the 10-second penalty, converted into a five-place grid drop, that stewards handed Colapinto. The paper noted Alpine's Flavio Briatore has said the team will consider its own response.

🇮🇹 Gazzetta dello Sport: Vasseur: "Ferrari scored more points than McLaren in Baku", Leclerc weak on the straight

Gazzetta dello Sport focused on Ferrari's technical shortfall, noting the SF-26 ran its Monza-specification low-downforce floor with no fresh upgrades at Baku, unlike McLaren's overhauled sidepods, floor, diffuser and rear wing. 

The Italian paper detailed how Charles Leclerc and Hamilton struggled with energy deployment clipping and reduced top-end power across the circuit's long full-throttle section. 

It also noted both cars started on soft tyres to grab track position, but wheelspin and front-tyre temperature issues left them exposed on the straight in the opening stint. 

Despite the deficit, Vasseur pointed out Ferrari still out-scored McLaren on the day.

🇫🇷 L'Équipe: Pierre Gasly can't stomach his retirement in Baku, "I'm gutted for the whole team"

L'Équipe covered Gasly's frustration after his race ended through no fault of his own, collected by his own team-mate at the restart. 

The French outlet detailed the sequence: Colapinto's lock-up, the impact with Gasly, and the resulting collection of Norris. It reported that Alpine has yet to confirm whether Colapinto will face any punishment beyond the stewards' grid penalty for the next round. 

Gasly was described as struggling to accept the manner of the retirement given the points both Alpine cars had been running for.

🇳🇿 The New Zealand Herald: Liam Lawson struggles in Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, narrowly misses top 10 start

The New Zealand Herald reported that Lawson blamed straight-line speed deficits and overheating tyres late in his final Q2 lap for missing the cut to Q3 by a fraction. 

The outlet noted he failed to find a useful slipstream on the long Baku straight when it mattered most. Lawson eventually finished 12th in the race, salvaging little from a difficult weekend for the RB squad.

🇦🇺 Herald Sun: 'Absolute disaster' for Oscar Piastri at Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix

The Herald Sun described Piastri's collapse from third to 15th after locking both front wheels defending against Isack Hadjar at the restart, sending him down the escape road. 

The Australian outlet suggested McLaren suspected uneven road crowning at the corner may have contributed to the sudden lock-up rather than a simple driving error. 

The result leaves Piastri well adrift in the championship, with McLaren left to explain how a podium chance evaporated in an instant.