Franco Colapinto has publicly addressed the increasing issue of online abuse directed at Formula 1 personnel and drivers. The Alpine driver issued a statement via his social media channels in mid-October 2026, ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
Colapinto stated that while he is grateful for fan support, certain boundaries have been exceeded. He highlighted that his mechanics and engineers have been subjected to hateful messages.
The Argentine driver noted that such negative comments do not assist athletes in performing at their best. He also suggested that drivers themselves sometimes contribute to the problem by not fully considering the impact of their public statements.
This statement follows a series of incidents throughout the 2026 season where online abuse became prominent. At the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Pierre Gasly faced hostility, including threats to his family, after Alpine’s strategy decision regarding a car swap with Colapinto.
Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore reportedly warned Colapinto that his media engagements could be restricted if the abuse continued.
Later in the season, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Colapinto was involved in a first-corner collision during a safety car restart, which eliminated Lando Norris, Gasly, and himself.
Norris’s immediate post-race comments, suggesting Colapinto should face a ban, led to a wave of abuse directed at the McLaren driver. Norris later apologised for his initial remarks.
Colapinto received a five-place grid penalty for the subsequent race due to the Azerbaijan incident.
The FIA stewards were also targeted with online abuse following the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. This occurred after Colapinto received two penalties for overtaking under double yellow flags and failing to slow under a yellow flag.
Alpine has issued multiple statements throughout 2026 condemning online abuse. The team emphasized that racing errors are part of the sport and no individual should be subjected to hateful comments.
The team also addressed and denied claims of attempting to ‘sabotage’ Colapinto in favour of Gasly.
Max Verstappen recently spoke out against online abuse after his GT World Challenge teammate, Chris Lulham, was targeted following a racing error at Portimao. Verstappen stated that personal attacks are unacceptable.
Colapinto welcomed Verstappen’s intervention, noting that online harassment is a widespread issue affecting various professions.
The FIA established the ‘United Against Online Abuse’ coalition in 2023. This initiative aims to combat online abuse in sport through policy advocacy and collective action.
On July 7, 2026, the first ‘United Against Online Abuse Day’ was held, with F1 drivers Kimi Antonelli, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, and Colapinto participating to deliver a unified message against online harassment.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, stated: “Online abuse undermines our competitions and endangers our athletes, officials, and fans. It erodes the very spirit of sport. But together, we can change that.”
Ocon had previously received death threats after the Chinese Grand Prix earlier in the season.
Colapinto’s former Alpine predecessor, Jack Doohan, also reported receiving death threats after being replaced by the Argentine in 2025.
The FIA’s Sporting Regulations for 2026 and 2027 include ‘FIA Social Media Community Guidelines’ to promote respectful online engagement.
