Gasly hits out at 'disturbing' abuse over Colapinto incident

Pierre Gasly has condemned the "disturbing" social media abuse and threats he and his family received after holding up Alpine teammate Franco Colapinto during the Spanish Grand Prix. The Frenchman, who finished 12th, said the attacks were "completely inappropriate" and called for a healthier environment in the sport.

Why it matters:

The episode highlights the toxic side of F1 fandom, where drivers and their families face personal threats over on-track incidents. It also underscores the delicate teammate dynamic at Alpine, as a minor in-race moment escalated into a social media storm.

The details:

• The incident came late in the race when Gasly, on an in-lap before pitting, held up Colapinto, who was chasing seventh and being pursued by Oscar Piastri. Colapinto kept the position but lost time.
• Gasly said the abuse crossed a line: "There is a certain line that should not be crossed just because you're behind a screen and a keyboard."
• Colapinto backed Gasly, noting such abuse is too common and citing Yuki Tsunoda's case last year. He said the pair are working as a team to make Alpine better.
• The drivers discussed the incident with team management, including Flavio Briatore. Colapinto admitted Piastri nearly overtook him, but said the team understood and will improve.

What's next:

Both drivers say the matter is resolved internally, but the broader issue of online abuse remains. Gasly and Colapinto are focused on pushing Alpine forward and avoiding similar misunderstandings in future races.