Colapinto condemns online abuse after Alpine mechanics targeted by his own fans

Franco Colapinto recorded a direct video message to his fanbase ahead of the United States Grand Prix, condemning the online abuse that has been directed at Alpine mechanics and engineers throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The 23-year-old Argentine has raised the issue repeatedly during media sessions this year, but the situation following the Singapore Grand Prix prompted him to go further and address supporters personally. Colapinto said he remained grateful for the backing he receives, but made clear that directing hatred toward others does nothing to advance his career.

“I’ve always been very grateful for all the fans supporting me,” Colapinto told media ahead of the Austin weekend. “But I think in every sport and fan base, it’s got a bad side as well, the hate side of people putting bad comments and not helping athletes perform at their best. To me, it crossed a few lines lately.”

Colapinto revealed that the abuse had extended beyond rival drivers to the people working directly on his car — mechanics who make race-weekend adjustments and engineers who support his performance on track.

“Especially my mechanics got a lot of hate,” he said. “My engineers as well, people from my team that want me to do well and that help me to perform. I’m working with them daily and seeing them getting these kind of messages, it just hurts me in general.”

When asked whether the abuse arrived via comments on official team accounts or through private messages to individuals, Colapinto acknowledged he could not confirm every detail. “I don’t have their phones, but from what I understand, they receive messages and comments. Again, it just crossed the line for me.”

The pattern, as Motorsport.com understands it, involves team members being wrongly blamed for difficult qualifying sessions — for instance, mechanics who adjust the front wing between segments — and subsequently receiving hateful messages on their personal accounts. Alpine has responded by advising staff to set their personal social media profiles to private and to avoid displaying team branding, in an effort to reduce their exposure.

Colapinto said the video statement felt like the last meaningful step available to him. “It was always going to be positive, so I was keen to do it,” he added.