Franco Colapinto launches stinging Lance Stroll criticism: 'Always taking people out'

Franco Colapinto has accused Lance Stroll of “always taking people out” following a clash with Gabriel Bortoleto at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Bortoleto was eliminated on the opening lap of his home grand prix, capping off a difficult event after also crashing out during the sprint race.

The Brazilian made minor contact with Stroll as they approached Turn 10, which unsettled his car and sent him into the wall.

Colapinto was asked about the incident after the race and placed the blame on Stroll, labelling the Aston Martin driver a repeat instigator of in-race incidents.

“Stroll is always taking people out, he’s not looking in the mirrors,” Colapinto told media including RacingNews365. 

“He put Gabriel in the wall, it’s what he does every time.”

Bortoleto started from the back of the field after failing to take part in qualifying due to a high-speed shunt in the sprint race.

The Sauber rookie was not as harsh on Stroll, asserting in his own assessment that he put himself at a higher risk of being caught up in an incident due to starting from the back of the pack.

“There's no pointing fingers here, just lap one,” Bortoleto said. 

“I was on 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.

"I think it's a racing incident. Obviously, if he had given a bit more space, I would have done the corner. I probably would have overtaken him because he had worse tyres than I had because I was on softs.

“I'm just sad because I have not been able to race today and show a bit of the pace that I believe we had. 

“It comes from me, from my incident in the sprint race that caused me to not do qualifying. I'm going to be the first one harsh on myself here..

"I believe it's a consequence of things that happened earlier in the weekend.”