As Crash.net reports, Franco Colapinto has issued his strongest plea yet to his Formula 1 fans amid a troubling surge in online abuse targeted at various drivers on the grid this season. The Alpine driver finds himself at the centre of a storm after the likes of Esteban Ocon, Colapinto’s own team-mate Pierre Gasly, and reigning champion Lando Norris all received a torrent of abuse from Argentinian fans in 2026. This escalation previously prompted Alpine’s Flavio Briatore to threaten Argentine media with a blackout on Colapinto if the situation failed to improve.
Addressing the matter in a video posted on his Instagram in his native Spanish, Colapinto admitted that the abuse directed at others by his supporters is not helping him or his future. He acknowledged that while he should have spoken out sooner, the current situation is something that needs to be addressed, changed, and improved.
Opening up about the situation, the driver expressed deep gratitude for the backing he has received from the very beginning. He noted that the constant support pushes him to aim higher and helps both him and the team achieve results race after race, day after day. He understands that supporters feel immense pride when things go well and points are secured, but he stressed that things sometimes go too far.
Instead of offering pure support, the fanbase has ended up criticising people and attacking other drivers, colleagues, team-mates, mechanics, and engineers—the very individuals Colapinto works with every single day. While he acknowledged that the fans likely believe they are defending him, he delivered a stark warning that they are actually achieving the exact opposite and hurting his future prospects.
That warning is particularly curious given his current contract situation. Colapinto has a deal in place with Alpine for the 2027 season, having signed a new agreement in the summer, and F1's pursuit of a race in Argentina could theoretically secure his presence on the grid beyond 2027. Yet, the tolerance levels of Alpine regarding the baggage accompanying the driver will ultimately depend heavily on his raw track results.
At present, Colapinto sits 12th in the standings on 27 points with a best finish of sixth. Meanwhile, team-mate Pierre Gasly is currently outperforming him, holding 41 points and 10th place in the standings.
Should Alpine decide, after next year, that Colapinto is simply not doing enough on the circuit, it remains difficult to picture many rival teams willing to take on the headache of an unpredictable fan base for an underperforming driver.
