Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has addressed the recent online abuse directed at Jack Doohan and Yuki Tsunoda by a subset of Argentine fans ahead of the F1 Monaco GP.
Colapinto’s return to F1 with Alpine has undoubtedly reinvigorated his passionate fanbase. Several media outlets, including Pit Debrief, had reported earlier in the year that Doohan faced a six-race audition to avoid getting axed by the French team. Since then, a small but loud section of Colapinto’s fanbase has been involved in the continuous harassment of the Australian driver over the past few months.
The situation further escalated last weekend when Colapinto replaced Doohan and made his debut for Alpine at the Imola GP. A parody account on X (formerly Twitter) fabricated an image which portrayed Doohan’s father, Mick, mocking Colapinto’s crash in qualifying. As Argentine media didn’t verify the authenticity of the post and reported it as genuine, Doohan and his family faced a torrent of online abuse.
Red Bull’s Tsunoda also found himself on the receiving end of racist abuse after he angrily gesticulated towards Colapinto following an impeding incident during the first hour of practice in Imola.
These unsavoury incidents prompted both Alpine and the FIA to condemn the growing online abuse and urge fans to be kind and respectful to all drivers.
Colapinto trying his best to temper the aggressive behaviour of his fans
Speaking in a print media session ahead of the F1 Monaco GP on Thursday, Franco Colapinto shared his opinion on whether the recent statements that Alpine and the FIA have issued would be enough to curb online abuse.
Referring to the harassment he has encountered on social media since his Formula 2 days, Colapinto noted that there are things that athletes can and cannot control. Highlighting how fervent some of his fans are, the 21-year-old stated that he is making an effort to persuade them to tone down their aggressive behaviour.
The Argentine driver also emphasised the importance of compartmentalising the off-track issues and concentrating one’s efforts solely into driving whilst on track.
“Look, I, you know, received just a lot of hate on social media since I was in Formula 2. And that happens.
“I think we are athletes and we have to focus on what we can control. There are things out of our control that we cannot really change. How people respect the others and what those people do.
“I’m trying my best to try to calm people that, you know, that I can control maybe a bit more, that are my fans. So that’s a work in progress.
“I know there are some, you know, overreacting and they are very passionate. But they are also very euphoric and some are a bit aggressive. That’s the reality, you know. So, on my side I’m trying to do my best.
“I know a lot of people, you know, are receiving hate. I did as well. So, I just think that we need to take out of our head when we are on track and just focus on driving.”
Tsunoda’s abuse is unacceptable since Colapinto would’ve reacted the same
Referring to the impeding incident during Friday practice in Imola that upset Tsunoda, Franco Colapinto admitted that he would’ve reacted in a similar manner if the roles were reversed. He also maintained that the Japanese driver shouldn’t have received abuse online for his fairly innocuous gesture during a frustrating moment on track.
Furthermore, highlighting the escalating trend of online abuse in sports, Colapinto stated that people directly associated with motorsport, including drivers, should utilise their connection with the fans to regulate their behaviour as much as possible.
“You know, like the Yuki [Tsunoda] one, I mean, I would’ve been really upset if someone blocked me like I did to Yuki. So, honestly, he’s right and he’s completely right to be upset. He’s just as upset as I would’ve been if someone blocked me like that.
“And I understand him. I think he did the right thing. And it’s just really bad, him receiving hate for that.
“And, look, there are different moments, not only in motorsport, I think in sports in general, that people have to behave better.
“We have also to do our best as the people in the sport to try to calm the people down, make them understand that they have to enjoy the sport as much as they can watching on TV or watching on the track, but not inducing that lack of respect that some have.”
Colapinto appeals directly to his fans
Asked if he has a direct message for the fans who crossed the line and resulted in Alpine and the FIA issuing statements to condemn online abuse, Franco Colapinto reiterated that he has always urged his fans to treat his fellow drivers with respect.
Despite his best efforts, the 21-year-old admitted that he cannot truly control how his fans behave in online spaces. Stating that he never condones negative comments directed at him or other drivers on social media, the newest Alpine recruit issued a strong warning that his Argentine fanbase has to maintain decorum regardless of how they feel about his rivals.
“A direct message I try to give all the time. As I said before, I try to control it as much as I can.
“It’s not in my control, you know. I never like when I see bad comments, bad messages to our drivers. I don’t like when I see bad comments or bad messages to me as well. So I’m kind of in the same position. It’s never nice, you know.
“I try to do my best, as I said before, to calm them down. That’s all I can do. Help them understand that it’s not the right thing to do.
“Of course, they have all the freedom and liberty to write what they feel and what they want, but always keeping the respect and keeping a certain line and not going below that.”
