Alpine have publicly condemned the wave of online harassment and hateful messages that have been directed at drivers and other figures in Formula 1 since the incident at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Franco Colapinto was involved in a three‑car collision with Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris. The team’s statement, released on Sunday, made it clear that the abuse is not limited to any single fan base, team or driver, but is a universal problem that must be called out by all supporters of the sport. The crash occurred during the first Safety Car restart in Baku when Colapinto, still on cold tyres, locked his brakes into Turn 1 and slid into the side of his teammate Gasly. Gasly was then forced straight into Norris' McLaren on the outside line, resulting in all three cars retiring with significant damage.
In the aftermath, Colapinto issued an apology to his team, Alpine, his teammate and to Norris, describing the incident as a "big mistake". Because Colapinto retired from the race, he was unable to serve the ten‑second time penalty handed down by the stewards. Instead, the penalty was converted into a five‑place grid drop for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The young Argentine driver will therefore start further back on the grid as a direct consequence of his error.
Norris, speaking immediately after the crash, suggested that drivers who cause such incidents should face a one‑race ban and added that "some drivers shouldn't be in Formula 1, to be honest". His comments sparked a broader debate about the appropriate level of punishment for mistakes made at the limit of performance. Alpine have a history of speaking out against the toxic side of social media that sometimes follows high‑profile incidents.
In this case, the team reiterated that the abuse was not only aimed at Colapinto, but also at other members of the Formula 1 community, including journalists and rival teams. The statement emphasized that mistakes are an inherent part of racing at the limit, and no one should be subjected to hateful or abusive remarks regardless of the outcome.
"Condemning abuse on social media is not aimed at any one fan base or the supporters of one team or driver; this is universal and should be called out and recognised by all fans of the sport," the Alpine communiqué read. The team also pledged to work closely with the sport’s promoter, the rights‑holder and the FIA to develop solutions that curb online abuse while preserving healthy competition, which is a hallmark of Formula 1. Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s executive advisor, said he would take time to reflect on the incident and consider what disciplinary measures might be appropriate.
He described Colapinto’s error as "very poor" and noted that Alpine lost seven championship points as a result. At the time of the crash, Gasly was running a strong seventh place while Colapinto was in tenth, highlighting the potential points that were forfeited.
The stewards’ investigation concluded that Colapinto was wholly or predominantly at fault. They explained that the standard penalty for causing a collision is a ten‑second time penalty, which was converted to a five‑place grid drop because the driver could not serve the time penalty after retiring. The decision also noted that there was no mitigating factor from any other driver that would justify a more lenient approach. In the broader context of the race, Alpine’s loss allowed Arvid Lindblad to finish seventh, extending Racing Bulls' lead over Alpine in the fight for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship to 15 points with eight rounds remaining.
After the race, Briatore expressed disappointment at the lost points and reiterated his sympathy for Gasly, who had performed well all weekend, as well as for Norris and McLaren. He praised Colapinto for taking responsibility but stressed that the mistake was a serious lapse for a driver of his experience.
Briatore said he would reflect on the incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future. When asked about Norris' suggestion of a race ban, the podium finishers – George Russell, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar – all agreed that a one‑race suspension would be excessive for a single mistake. Russell described the penalty as "too harsh", noting that safety‑car restarts on cold tyres can turn a small error into a major incident.
Verstappen echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Colapinto had acknowledged his mistake and apologized, and that such incidents, while unfortunate, are part of the sport. Hadjar added that the track conditions in Baku, with its bumpy surface and limited grip after a safety‑car period, contributed to the severity of the outcome. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella defended the stewards' decision, stating that drivers are expected to apply common sense, especially on street circuits where there is little runoff.
He highlighted the need for prudence on circuits like Baku and praised the stewards for their handling of the case. The incident has reignited discussions about how Formula 1 and its governing bodies can better protect participants from online abuse. Alpine’s firm stance, combined with the comments from other drivers and team officials, underscores a growing consensus that the sport must take proactive steps to foster a respectful digital environment while maintaining the competitive spirit that makes it unique.
Looking ahead, Formula 1 returns to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the first Malaysian race since 2017. Fans can watch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free way to follow the action.