Alpine Issues Statement Amid Escalating Abuse Related to Franco Colapinto

Alpine condemns online abuse after Colapinto’s Baku crash

Alpine has issued another strong statement against social media abuse following Franco Colapinto’s crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. The Argentine driver lost control during a Safety Car restart, triggering a pile-up that ended the races of his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly and McLaren driver Lando Norris.

Norris reacted angrily before he had been able to review the incident himself, saying whoever caused the crash should receive “at least a one-race ban”. Although Norris did not mention Colapinto by name, the comment was followed by another wave of abuse on social media. The backlash was directed mainly at Norris, while Gasly and other members of the Formula 1 community were also targeted.

Alpine said the latest incident was part of a broader pattern that has repeatedly involved fans attacking drivers, officials, teams and members of the media. The team stated: “Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments,” Alpine insisted in a statement on Sunday.

Previous backlash involving Colapinto and Gasly

Argentinian fans have faced increased scrutiny in recent races after hateful comments were aimed at FIA stewards and Alpine when Colapinto received a drive-through penalty for overtaking under double yellow flags at Zandvoort.

Gasly was also subjected to abuse after briefly refusing to let Colapinto pass during the race in Madrid. The French driver said threats had been directed at his family. Colapinto described the conduct as “not nice to see” while insisting it was ‘not just his fans’.

The latest Alpine statement came shortly after team boss Flavio Briatore reportedly warned Argentinian media that they could lose access to Colapinto if online hatred continued. The alleged warning reflected concerns that the abuse was damaging Alpine’s reputation, although the team’s public statement stressed that its condemnation was not directed at any particular group of supporters.

Alpine’s full statement on social media abuse

“As a team, we feel it’s necessary to speak out once more about the hate and abuse online following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Not only aimed at one of our own drivers, but also members of the Formula One community, including media, and to our racing counterparts who we respect, admire, and revel competing against in the pinnacle of motorsport. Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments. 
“Condemning abuse on social media is not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver, this is universal and should be called out and recognised to all fans of the sport. As we have said in previous instances, we strongly condemn the reaction of some fans online and stand in solidarity with Formula One, the FIA, and other teams in wanting to stamp it out. It has become a regular occurrence in recent races and cannot be condoned. 
“We know as a proud participant and stakeholder in the sport, we hold a responsibility to speak out and also help support in finding a solution. We will continue to work closely with the championship promoter and rights-holder, and the governing body to discuss ways in which to tackle online abuse and encourage healthy sporting rivalry, which Formula One is renowned for and what makes it so special.”

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Why This Matters

Alpine’s intervention highlights the growing challenge of managing online abuse around Formula 1 incidents. The team said the problem is not limited to one driver, team or fan base and confirmed that it plans to work with the championship promoter and rights-holder, Formula 1, the FIA and other teams on possible solutions.

The statement also distinguishes legitimate sporting rivalry and criticism from hateful or abusive conduct. With online attacks recurring after recent races involving Colapinto, Gasly, Norris and FIA officials, Alpine has called for healthier fan engagement across the sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to Franco Colapinto at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Colapinto lost control during a Safety Car restart in Baku and caused a pile-up that eliminated Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris from the race.

Why did Alpine issue another statement?

Alpine said online abuse had again targeted its driver, other members of the Formula 1 community, media representatives and rival teams after the crash.

What action does Alpine plan to take?

Alpine said it would continue working with Formula 1, the FIA and other stakeholders to address online abuse and promote healthy sporting rivalry.