Alpine Denies Sabotage Claims, Reaffirms Equal Treatment for Colapinto

Alpine has issued a forceful public statement denying "completely unfounded" rumors that it is sabotaging driver Franco Colapinto, while also condemning the online abuse directed at drivers following recent on-track incidents. The team emphasized its principle of providing equal equipment and opportunity for both Colapinto and teammate Pierre Gasly, attributing any minor car differences in China to a late gearbox issue.

Why it matters:

Sabotage rumors within a Formula 1 team are toxic and can severely damage internal trust, driver morale, and fan perception. Alpine's decision to publicly address them head-on, rather than ignore the speculation, is a significant move to protect its competitive integrity and support its young Argentinian driver. Concurrently, by condemning the online abuse aimed at Colapinto and former driver Esteban Ocon, the team is taking a stand on a growing issue in the sport's fan culture.

The details:

• The rumors gained traction during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, with some fans alleging deliberate performance differences between Colapinto's and Pierre Gasly's cars.
• Alpine's statement firmly shut down this narrative, calling sabotage claims "not in the team’s interests" and counterproductive to scoring points.
• The team acknowledged a minor equipment disparity in Shanghai, but clarified it was due to a late gearbox problem that forced Colapinto onto older, low-performance-impacting components.
• Alpine admitted it should have responded sooner to the abuse directed at Esteban Ocon after his collision with Colapinto in China, calling the delay an "oversight."
• The team confirmed it is working with F1 and the FIA to better manage harmful online behavior.

What's next:

Alpine aims to maintain its improved 2026 form, having been the fourth-fastest car at recent races. The team notes that in the push for development, there may be times when upgrades reach one car first due to manufacturing constraints, but it pledges transparency in such cases. The ultimate goal remains bringing upgrades to both drivers as soon as possible. This statement serves as a reset, with Alpine reiterating its full commitment to Colapinto as it fights to keep both cars regularly in the points.

summary: Alpine has publicly denied rumors of sabotaging Franco Colapinto's car, stating both drivers receive equal equipment. The team also condemned online abuse directed at drivers and admitted it was too slow to defend Esteban Ocon after the China incident, vowing to work with F1 to address toxic fan behavior.