Alpine has once again been forced to draw a line in the sand over online abuse after the chaotic aftermath of Franco Colapinto’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix crash dragged the team, its drivers and members of the wider Formula 1 community into another social-media storm.
The Argentine driver triggered a dramatic chain reaction at a Safety Car restart in Baku, losing control and collecting Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The incident ended the races of all three drivers and left Norris particularly frustrated, with the reigning world champion saying that whoever was responsible should receive “at least a one-race ban” before he had seen the footage for himself.
Norris did not name Colapinto, but that was enough to send another wave of abuse towards the McLaren driver online. Gasly and others were also targeted, reviving an increasingly familiar problem for Alpine.
The team has already faced similar episodes this season, most notably after Colapinto received a drive-through penalty at Zandvoort for overtaking under double yellow flags. Pierre Gasly was subsequently subjected to threats against his family after a separate incident involving his team-mate in Madrid.
Alpine refuses to let the cycle continue
Against that backdrop, Alpine chose to intervene again, making clear that its latest statement was not intended as an attack on Colapinto’s supporters or any particular nationality of fan.
“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,” the team stated.
©Alpine/TWJB
“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.
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“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.”
Another unwanted chapter for Colapinto
The timing makes the intervention particularly pointed. Colapinto’s Baku error has added another layer to a season in which Alpine has repeatedly found itself having to manage not only incidents on track but the reaction to them away from it.
The latest episode also comes amid reported warnings from Alpine executive Flavio Briatore to Argentine media over access to Colapinto, with the team increasingly concerned about the reputational damage created by abusive online behaviour.
For Alpine, however, the message is broader than the fallout from one crash or one driver. The team is insisting that fierce competition and passionate support should not spill into personal attacks against drivers, teams, officials or journalists.
In Baku, Colapinto’s mistake was costly enough on the track. Alpine is now making clear that what followed online should not become another price paid for racing at the limit.
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