Alpine condemns surge in social media abuse after Colapinto's Baku pile-up triggers fresh wave

Alpine have released a formal statement condemning a renewed wave of social media abuse aimed at FIA stewards, rival drivers and their own personnel after Franco Colapinto triggered a multi-car pile-up at a safety-car restart during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.

Colapinto lost control at the restart and collected both team-mate Pierre Gasly and McLaren’s Lando Norris, ending the race for all three. Norris, the reigning world champion, was visibly frustrated and, before reviewing footage of the incident, said whoever was responsible should receive “at least a one-race ban.” Although Norris did not name Colapinto, the comment sparked a fresh torrent of abuse directed primarily at the Briton, with Gasly and others also targeted.

It is the latest in a series of incidents that have placed the behaviour of a section of Colapinto’s fanbase under scrutiny. Earlier this season, hateful messages were sent to FIA stewards and Alpine staff after Colapinto was handed a drive-through penalty for overtaking under a double yellow flag at Zandvoort. In Madrid, Gasly briefly held position ahead of his team-mate before eventually conceding the place — a decision that prompted threats against Gasly’s family. At the time, Colapinto acknowledged the abuse was “not nice to see” while arguing it was “not just his fans” responsible.

“Mistakes happen when racing at the limit and no matter the result or outcome, nobody should be subject to hateful or abusive comments,” Alpine said in their Sunday statement. The team was careful to frame the condemnation as sport-wide rather than directed at any single fanbase: “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.”

Alpine added that they “strongly condemn the reaction of some fans online” and stand in solidarity with Formula 1, the FIA and rival teams “in wanting to stamp it out,” describing the pattern as “a regular occurrence in recent races” that “cannot be condoned.”

The statement follows reports that Alpine F1 boss Flavio Briatore privately warned Argentinian media that access to Colapinto could be withdrawn if the online hatred continued to damage the team’s reputation.