Alpine issues open letter condemning online abuse, denies 'sabotage' claims against Colapinto

The Alpine F1 team has published a public letter condemning the 'hateful' online abuse directed at its driver Franco Colapinto and others, while also forcefully shutting down fan-driven rumors that the team is sabotaging his car. The statement comes after a series of incidents, including death threats against Esteban Ocon and abuse targeting Colapinto following Oliver Bearman's high-speed crash in Japan.

Why it matters:

Online abuse targeting drivers has become a persistent and toxic issue in Formula 1, with serious real-world consequences. Alpine's decision to publicly address both the abuse and unfounded conspiracy theories highlights the pressure teams face in managing fan sentiment in the social media era and underscores a sport-wide effort to protect competitors from harassment that goes beyond the limits of competition.

The details:

• The team condemned abuse aimed at Colapinto after the Japanese GP, where he was involved in the incident that led to Oliver Bearman's heavy crash at Spoon Curve. The FIA later stated the significant closing speeds of the 2026 cars were a factor and would be reviewed.
• Alpine also referenced the 'abuse and threats' directed at Esteban Ocon after his collision with Colapinto in China, for which Ocon took full responsibility and apologized.
• Denying 'Sabotage' Claims: The letter directly addressed and denied fan speculation that Colapinto is not receiving equal equipment to teammate Pierre Gasly, calling such suggestions 'completely unfounded.'
  • Alpine stated both drivers have the same car, barring some low-impact parts in China due to a gearbox change, and that the team's goal is always to score points with both cars.
• Upgrade Transparency: The team acknowledged that in the development race, upgrades may occasionally reach one car first due to manufacturing constraints, but pledged to communicate transparently when this happens, with the aim always being to equip both drivers as soon as possible.
• Drivers Working Together: Alpine emphasized the collaborative working relationship between Gasly and Colapinto, sharing data and feedback in the engineering office, dismissing notions of information being withheld as 'a thing of the past.'

What's next:

Alpine, currently positioned as the fourth-fastest team, will use the break before the Miami Grand Prix to debrief and improve. The team's public stance adds to the growing institutional push against online abuse, following similar interventions by the FIA. Meanwhile, the sport's governing body is set to review the 2026 car regulations in April, specifically regarding closing speeds highlighted by the Bearman incident.