Alpine Condemns Social Media Abuse Targeting Franco Colapinto

Franco Colapinto joined Alpine as the team's reserve driver in 2025 after signing from Williams

Alpine has taken a decisive stance against online harassment by condemning social media abuse directed at Franco Colapinto while firmly rejecting allegations of internal favoritism within their driver lineup.

The Formula 1 team issued a comprehensive open letter addressing the "hateful messages" targeting the 22-year-old Argentine driver following his involvement in Oliver Bearman's dramatic high-speed crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The incident occurred when Bearman's Haas collided with Colapinto's Alpine due to a significant speed differential of nearly 30mph between the two vehicles. Colapinto had entered energy harvesting mode while approaching the Spoon curve, at the same moment Bearman activated his boost button, creating the dangerous speed disparity.

Current season performance data reveals a notable points gap between the Alpine teammates, with Pierre Gasly accumulating 15 points compared to Colapinto's single point across the opening three races. At Suzuka specifically, veteran driver Gasly secured seventh place while Colapinto finished 16th.

Addressing persistent fan concerns regarding potential inequality between team cars, Alpine delivered an unequivocal response. The team emphasized their unwavering commitment to Colapinto, stating: "Franco is our driver and the team has placed its trust in him, just as he has with the team. That is an indication of the commitment we have to Franco and his place in the team with equal footing alongside Pierre."

The organization categorically dismissed sabotage allegations, describing suggestions that Colapinto receives inferior equipment as "completely unfounded." Alpine acknowledged that development priorities might occasionally result in one car receiving upgrades before the other, but pledged complete transparency in such decisions while maintaining their commitment to equitable treatment.

The team also addressed a separate incident involving former Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, who faced death threats following a collision with Colapinto in Shanghai. Alpine praised Ocon's professional response, noting how he "took full responsibility and apologised to Franco, actively seeking him out in the media pen and also apologising on social media."

Alpine expressed regret for not speaking out sooner against the harassment Ocon faced, acknowledging that such abuse contradicts Formula 1's core values and sporting spirit.

This strong statement represents Alpine's commitment to protecting their drivers from online toxicity while maintaining transparency about their operational decisions and driver development strategies.