Appeal to fans

Franco Colapinto, the Alpine driver, posted a video on Instagram late on Wednesday, 14 October, asking his fans to stop social media campaigns against other drivers and the team's staff. He said the behaviour was holding back his career and that everyone needed to change it together. The appeal follows a run of abusive comments aimed at drivers who clashed with him on track, among them Lando Norris and the FIA race stewards who penalized him. Colapinto said he had decided to take a break from social media to focus on his dream, his sporting career and his work with the team. He also thanked fans for their pride whenever he scores points for himself and the whole team.

In the video he framed the problem as support turning into attacks.

“I know you're thinking that you're defending me, but you're actually doing the opposite.”

Abuse aimed at rivals and team staff

Since his debut in 2024, fans have sent negative and sometimes abusive comments to drivers who clashed with him on track. NOS reports that both Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly received threats from Argentina after on-track contact with Colapinto. Alpine has condemned the online abuse and denied claims that it tried to sabotage Colapinto to favour Gasly. ABC reports that the FIA and the competition itself have had to step in several times, while Alpine has asked fans to calm down without naming them directly. Jack Doohan, whom Alpine fired when it promoted Colapinto, later complained that he had received death threats around that time.

Career and standings

Colapinto became Argentina's first F1 driver in 23 years when he debuted with Williams in 2024. He moved to Alpine the following year, initially as a reserve, and was promoted after the team fired Jack Doohan. AP describes this as his most successful season, with a best career race finish of sixth, and places him 12th in the standings. NOS puts him on 27 points, with Gasly tenth on 41. Alpine confirmed in August that his contract would be extended for next season.

Franco Colapinto27

Pierre Gasly41

Franco Colapinto

27 points

Pierre Gasly

41 points

Data from the article text

Earlier flashpoints

SAPO recounts earlier incidents that fed the controversy, including an episode in Madrid where Gasly had not been instructed to let Colapinto pass, as the two followed different strategies. It describes a collision between the three drivers in Baku, after which Norris suggested Colapinto deserved a suspension, a remark Norris later withdrew, though hostility had already built up. The same outlet says Flavio Briatore, identified as an Alpine executive adviser, threatened Colapinto with a media blackout if the attacks did not stop. AP reports Alpine's denial of the sabotage claims, and the team's position remains that online abuse is unacceptable in any case.