Gasly condemns family threats after Spanish GP incident with Alpine team-mate Colapinto

Pierre Gasly has condemned the social media abuse directed at him and his family in the wake of a disputed incident with Alpine team-mate Franco Colapinto at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, describing the threats as ‘completely inappropriate’ during a media briefing in Baku on Wednesday.

The two Alpine drivers became embroiled in a tense situation in the closing laps of the Madrid race when Colapinto, on fresher tyres, caught up with Gasly, who was running old rubber and still had a pit stop to complete. With Oscar Piastri closing rapidly from behind, Alpine warned Gasly that his team-mate was approaching, but the Frenchman asked the team not to speak to him and held his position. Colapinto responded by calling over the radio for a position swap. Gasly eventually pitted at the end of that lap, allowing Colapinto to continue and finish seventh, ahead of Piastri.

The sequence of events triggered a wave of online abuse aimed at Gasly, with threats extending to his girlfriend and family members — a development the 29-year-old said crossed a clear line.

“I think personally I find it a little bit disturbing for our sport,” Gasly told media including Motorsport.com in Azerbaijan. “I know I’m exposed, it’s always been the case. But to that extent of threats and attacks, I find it completely inappropriate, especially when it reaches out to family members, girlfriend, etc.”

Gasly also reflected on how the rise of social media has changed the environment for drivers and called on Formula 1 to take steps to make the sport a healthier place, warning that certain lines are now crossed “too many times”.

“You’re going to be attacked, you can be liked, you can be disliked, it’s completely fine,” he said. “But there is a certain line that should not be crossed just because you’re behind the screen on a keyboard, and these lines are crossed a bit too many times.”

Colapinto, who has attracted a large and passionate Argentine fanbase since arriving in Formula 1 two years ago, also addressed the issue in Baku on Wednesday. He condemned the abuse directed at Gasly and urged his supporters to channel their energy into following his on-track results, as the Argentine has become a consistent points scorer this season.

The incident highlights a growing concern within Formula 1 over the darker side of the sport’s expanding global fanbase, with online abuse targeting drivers — and those close to them — becoming an increasingly prominent issue.