Colapinto calls for respect after online abuse directed at Tsunoda

Franco Colapinto Calls for Respect After Yuki Tsunoda Faces Online Abuse

Argentine Formula 1 rookie Franco Colapinto has called on his fans to show respect after Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda became the target of online abuse following Friday's practice session at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Practice Session Incident Leads to Online Harassment

The incident stemmed from the first practice session in Imola, where Colapinto—making his season debut for Alpine as a substitute for Australian Jack Doohan—unintentionally impeded Tsunoda on track. The Red Bull driver, clearly frustrated, responded with a visible hand gesture. What followed, however, was far from professional courtesy. Tsunoda's Instagram account was flooded with abusive comments, many in Spanish, in the aftermath of the incident.

Colapinto Advocates for Civility

Colapinto, addressing the situation, emphasized the importance of maintaining respect and civility among fans.

"I know they are extremely passionate, and they are always very harsh on people. They have to give respect, and that's what we all want," Colapinto told reporters. "There is a lot of hate on social media ... So of course we always try and want, for all the drivers, to keep it respectful and keep it calm there."

Crashes and Controversy on Saturday

The drama in Imola extended into Saturday, as both Tsunoda and Colapinto suffered heavy crashes in separate incidents during the qualifying session, capping a tumultuous weekend for both young drivers.

History of Fan Behavior

This is not the first time Colapinto's loyal fanbase has drawn negative attention. Back in February, after Colapinto was named Alpine's reserve driver, replacing Doohan in what many saw as an inevitable promotion, the Australian driver reportedly received online abuse from Colapinto's supporters. At the time, Colapinto’s manager, Jamie Campbell-Walter, urged fans to channel their passion in a positive way.

"The haters who think they help Franco. You are doing him more harm than good," Campbell-Walter posted on social media in a plea for unity among Alpine supporters.

Tsunoda's Call for Action

Tsunoda, who was promoted to Red Bull Racing earlier this season after replacing the demoted Liam Lawson, expressed his concern about the growing issue of social media toxicity and hinted that official measures could become necessary if the harassment persists.

"If it continues and it's getting worse and worse, then at some point F1 should say something," Tsunoda said.

Building a Respectful F1 Community

For Formula 1, the situation raises important questions about how to protect drivers from the dark side of online fandom. With the sport’s growing global audience, the responsibility to ensure a respectful and inclusive community increasingly extends beyond just the drivers—it’s a call for action that spans fans, teams, and organizers alike.

Up Next