We see it at every World Cup, every Olympic Games and, increasingly, in Formula One too: Argentine devotion to its athletes is relentless, sometimes overwhelming, and all too often spills over into abuse. Franco Colapinto has now been forced to ask his own fans to rein in their behaviour. The Alpine driver took to social media to urge his followers to stop abusing other drivers. In recent weeks, anyone who has raced wheel-to-wheel with Colapinto, including his teammate Pierre Gasly, has risked a barrage of online insults, threats and ridicule. Journalists who have offered critical assessments have been targeted in the same way.
The FIA and Formula One have issued several statements condemning the abuse, while Alpine has also urged fans to moderate their behaviour, making clear that online harassment is unacceptable under any circumstances. The appeals have so far done little to stop it. Colapinto has now addressed the issue himself, warning his supporters that their aggression is damaging both the team and his own career. In a video posted on social media, he appealed to them to show restraint. “It’s something we really need to change and improve,” he said, while acknowledging how much their support means to him. “They help us achieve results race after race, day after day, while I train and try to improve. I’m genuinely grateful for all of it. I know how proud they are when things go well, when the team and I score points, and I will always appreciate that.”
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The problem, he explained, comes when that support turns into hostility towards others. “Sometimes we cross the line. Instead of supporting me, it turns into attacking other drivers, my colleagues, my teammate, my mechanics, my engineers—people I work with every single day.” He also sought to dispel the idea that such attacks might somehow defend him. “I know they think they’re protecting me, but it has the exact opposite effect. It doesn’t help me, and it certainly doesn’t help my future. I really want everyone to understand that this is something we have to fix together.”