Franco Colapinto tells his fans to stop abusing F1 rivals, team-mates and mechanics online

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has asked his supporters to stop abusing other drivers, his own team members and race officials on social media. In a message posted on 15 October, the 23-year-old Argentine said the fans who believe they are defending him are actually harming him. His plea follows months of abuse aimed at people around him and several statements from Alpine and the FIA condemning it.

What Colapinto said

In his video message, Colapinto thanked fans for their support but said some of them needed to change their behaviour. He pointed out that the attacks were reaching his team-mates, mechanics and engineers, people he works with every day. He admitted that "sometimes, we go too far", and asked his followers to work together to improve the situation.

He also said he was frustrated by recent results and wants to concentrate on his own performance in the remaining races. Sky Sports noted that his message marks a shift in tone, as he had earlier described online abuse as a problem across society rather than one tied to his own fan base.

A run of incidents in 2026

The abuse has followed several flashpoints this season. After the Dutch Grand Prix, where Colapinto was penalised for not slowing enough for yellow flags, stewards were targeted online. At the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid in September, his team-mate Pierre Gasly spoke out about threats he received after Colapinto was held behind him.

The most high-profile case came after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. A first-lap clash at a restart put Lando Norris out of the race, and the McLaren driver called for Colapinto to be banned. Norris then received a wave of abuse. He later apologised to Colapinto for the remark, and Alpine issued another statement condemning the online attacks.

A problem that predates this season

The issue is not new. Colapinto made his F1 debut with Williams in the second half of 2024, becoming the first Argentine in the sport in more than 20 years and drawing a large, passionate following. When he joined Alpine for 2025, Jack Doohan faced heavy hostility before losing his race seat to Colapinto after six rounds. Doohan later revealed he had received death threats.

Alpine has said the abuse has become a regular feature of recent race weekends and cannot be condoned. Neither the team's statements nor the FIA's named Colapinto's supporters directly, but both identified the people being targeted, including Gasly and FIA officials.

Next up: Austin

Colapinto's message comes during a break before the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, which runs from 23 to 25 October. In Malaysia, the race takes place in the early hours of Monday, 26 October.

Online abuse in F1 has drawn wider attention in recent years, with the FIA and teams repeatedly backing campaigns against it. A direct appeal from the driver at the centre of the issue is unusual, and the coming weekends will show whether his fans listen.

Key takeaways

• Franco Colapinto urged his fans on 15 October to stop abusing rivals, team members and officials online.
• He said the attacks were reaching his team-mates, mechanics and engineers.
• Abuse followed the Dutch, Spanish and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, prompting statements from Alpine and the FIA.
• Lando Norris was targeted after calling for a Colapinto ban in Baku, and later apologised.
• The next race is the United States Grand Prix in Austin, 23 to 25 October.

FAQ

Why did Franco Colapinto speak out? Some of his supporters have repeatedly abused other drivers, Alpine staff and FIA officials. He said this behaviour does not help him and asked them to stop.

Who has been targeted? Reported targets include team-mate Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, FIA stewards and, in 2025, Jack Doohan.

What has Alpine done about it? Alpine has issued several statements this season condemning online abuse linked to incidents involving Colapinto.

Sources: RaceFans, Sky Sports, RacingNews365, PlanetF1