Formula One driver Franco Colapinto has urged fans in Argentina to stop attacking rival drivers and members of his own team, warning that online abuse could damage his career.
“I know you think you’re defending me, but you’re achieving the opposite. You’re not helping me or my future,” Colapinto said in a video message which also thanked supporters for their backing.
The 23-year-old revealed that fellow drivers, team-mates, mechanics and engineers had been targets of the abuse, urging fans to support him through both good results and difficult moments.
“We have to try to become a better society,” he said, adding that he remained determined to fight for better results and score points with Alpine.
Colapinto said he was taking a break from social media to focus on racing and his work with the team, while promising to remain in contact with supporters during race weekends.
Earlier this month, the Argentine praised Alpine executive Flavio Briatore for helping him and the team move forward after a disappointing crash at last month’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Colapinto lost control after a safety-car restart in Baku, triggering a collision that took out both reigning world champion Lando Norris and Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly.
He apologised for the incident, while a frustrated Norris initially called for the Argentine to be banned, before later apologising for his own reaction.
“There are times in the team when everyone is angry, and it’s tricky to move forward,” Colapinto told reporters. “But the important thing is that you always find a way. Flavio is a great team leader. He’s really one of the best I’ve had in the sport, of course, since I started.”
He said Briatore had been angry, like others in the team, but that they had discussed the incident, learned from it and moved on.
“As a team we had a lot of chats, we learned and we had to move on,” he said.
Colapinto added that he, Gasly and Norris had since resolved their differences.
– TIMES/NA