Franco Colapinto Calls for End to Social Media Abuse Against Athletes
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has appealed for common sense against the rise of hate speech on social media following his crash at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Alpine driver Franco Colapinto, who was subjected to hate messages, called on his fans and motorsport followers to show common sense and demanded an end to attacks against athletes.
The Accident in Azerbaijan and Its Aftermath
Franco Colapinto made a braking error at the first corner following the safety car period at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, colliding with his teammate Pierre Gasly. This contact caused Lando Norris to also become involved in the crash, resulting in all three drivers retiring from the race.
Lando Norris's Statements and Apology
After the race, in the heat of the moment, Lando Norris argued that Colapinto should be banned from Formula 1, but later retracted his statement and apologized after being targeted on social media.
Social Media Hate and Pressure
Drawing attention to the impact of things written behind keyboards, Colapinto stated that hate messages did not just come from Argentine fans, but that they received similar messages from all over the world, and that this situation seriously affects drivers and their families.
Team Dynamics and Flavio Briatore
Stating that Alpine management's Flavio Briatore reacted quite harshly to the crash, Colapinto noted that the intra-team tension was overcome thanks to Briatore's crisis management and that no additional penalty would be imposed on him at this stage.
Upcoming Race and Penalties
Evaluating ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix to be held in Malaysia, Franco Colapinto stated that he will serve a five-place grid penalty in this race due to his mistake in Azerbaijan.