Colapinto urges fans to stop attacking rival drivers online

Alpine's Argentine driver Franco Colapinto has made a direct appeal to his own fans in a video shared on social media. The young driver stressed that the insults and harassment aimed online at rival drivers and other figures in the Formula 1 community must stop.

Colapinto said his supporters believe they are defending him but are in fact doing the opposite. Noting that such behavior does him no good at all, he added that he is aware of the pride his fans feel when he gets good results and that he is grateful for their support.

Teammates and FIA officials targeted

The Argentine driver pointed out that the attacks have at times targeted other drivers, teammates, mechanics and engineers, the very people he works with every day. Saying this must be changed together, Colapinto spoke of the importance of improving as a society. He said the best way to help him score points and reach his dreams is to put an end to this behavior.

The appeal comes for good reason. Over the past two months, both the FIA and Alpine have issued statements condemning online abuse that followed the Dutch, Spanish and Azerbaijan grands prix. Although the statements did not name Colapinto's fans directly, they noted that those targeted included his teammate Pierre Gasly and FIA officials. In a statement last month, Alpine stressed that such incidents had become commonplace at recent races and were unacceptable.

A history of tension

Colapinto entered Formula 1 with Williams in the second half of the 2024 season, but the team had no seat for him the following year. He then moved to Alpine and was promoted to a race seat early in the season, replacing Jack Doohan. Doohan later revealed that he had received death threats from people who wanted him out of the car.

Alpine's first response this year to attacks by Colapinto supporters came after the Chinese Grand Prix, where Esteban Ocon collided with the Argentine driver. Some fans also accused the team of sabotaging Colapinto and of not giving him the same equipment as Gasly.

Recent flashpoints include the penalties Colapinto received at Zandvoort for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags, his brief spell held behind Gasly at Madring, and the contact both Alpine drivers had with Lando Norris in Baku.