Here's the thing about modern motorsport: the internet can turn a simple racing incident into an absolute poison. As Crash.net reports, Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore has threatened a total media blackout for Franco Colapinto if supporters do not clean up their act following a wave of online abuse directed at team-mate Pierre Gasly.
The friction started in Madrid over a straightforward tyre strategy. Gasly was running on a slower compound ahead of Colapinto, and Alpine opted not to order the Frenchman out of the way before his pit stop. That routine moment on the track somehow triggered a torrent of hostility online. Speaking at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Wednesday, Gasly admitted that he and his family had received disturbing abuse, noting that while top athletes expect a level of exposure, the scale of the attacks reaching family members and his girlfriend was completely inappropriate.
Briatore has taken a distinctly dim view of the fallout, delivering a blunt warning to ESPN regarding the behavior of the driver's fan base. If supporters cannot back Colapinto in a clean and loyal manner instead of spreading uncalled-for anger on social media, the team boss made it clear that the driver will stop talking to everybody. Briatore specifically called out Argentinian media, stating that the team would cut off interviews with Argentinian television and stop everything if the toxic online narrative continued without reason.
Defending the young talent while drawing a hard line, Briatore pointed out that Argentina is lucky to have a promising driver currently in development. He acknowledged that Colapinto is much better this year and emphasized that while the team welcomes Argentinian fans, everyone needs to be correct in their conduct.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident for the Argentine driver's supporters this season. Esteban Ocon was previously sent death threats by fans of the driver following a collision at the Chinese Grand Prix, and the FIA also had to condemn comments made by Colapinto sponsor Mercado Libre after a penalty was handed down at the Dutch Grand Prix.
