Yuki Tsunoda shared his opinion on online abuse during F1 Imola GP from fans of Franco Colapinto, as Jack Doohan is forced to clarify after fake screenshots make headlines.
Alpine’s Colapinto was not in the good books of many drivers on Friday and Saturday after his side of fans from Argentina bombarded hostile comments on certain drivers. One of the receiving ones was Red Bull’s Tsunoda, who had a minor moment with the Argentine on Friday in F1 Imola GP weekend.
Replays showed Colapinto coming in the way of Tsunoda, which forced the Japanese to show hand gestures from the cockpit. His social media had distasteful comments left. When asked, the Japanese not only stood up for himself, but also Doohan, who was replaced by the Argentine.
For now it is fine, but if it goes out of hands, Tsunoda feels Colapinto will have to address. “I heard about it but to be honest, it is just not about me, if I heard correctly. They’re going everywhere, to be honest, and then they’re going for Jack – Jack didn’t do anything wrong, and they’re going for it,” the Red Bull driver said to media. “So that’s a bit unnecessary.
“It’s been normal that if you have traffic, and I got it multiple times, to get frustrated I think I have the right to say something, but I didn’t say something wrong thing, or a very bad thing. I just show the frustration, and that’s it. I know they are supporting their own country’s driver, but there’s always a line that they can say something.
“I’m saying this… not because of me or not what they say to me but they said too much things to Doohan, and I don’t think he was driving in a comfortable way. It’s good that they have energy, but just control it, and I feel like they can use the energy in the right way and in a much better way. Franco is doing everything he just can do.
“I feel like…I don’t know if it was football scenario, maybe Christiano Ronaldo shared that kind of message for 20 years probably but he’s still performing. But at the same time, yeah, if it still continues and it’s getting worse and worse, for sure, at some point F1 should say something,” summed up Tsunoda, as Colapinto himself urged his fans to stay humble and not go overboard.
Often he has highlighted the passion from his side of fans, but the emotions takes over and things go berserk. “I blocked him [Tsunoda] in practice – he was right,” said Colapinto. “I blocked quite a few people, just the first day with the car, with the team, it’s always a bit of miscommunication and a bit tricky. And yeah, I blocked him. He probably was a bit upset.
“He’s right to be upset, it’s fine. I don’t know what the Argentinians did? I know they are extremely passionate, and they are always very harsh on people. They have to give respect, and that’s what we all want. There is a lot of hate on social media … So of course we always try and want, for all the drivers, to keep it respectful and keep it calm there,” summed up Colapinto.
As Tsunoda noted about Doohan, the Australian and his father has been at the receiving end for long. Ever since rumours about the Argentine joining Alpine came through, there has been barrage of comments on the rookie. It continued from pre-season into the first six rounds as well.
Despite request from Colapinto’s management to not harm his client’s reputation, the fans have continued their social media abuse. It increased in the last few days when a X (formerly Twitter) account posted a fake screenshot of Mick Doohan, where he made fun of Colapinto’s Q1 incident.
The account usually posts fake scenarios and shares hypothetical news/scenarios as part of his style. But fans and even local media picked up the post as real and ran stories around it. The social media account had to clarify and apologise after hurl of online harassment went towards Doohan family.
Usually, Jack remains quite but he took to social media to clarify Doohan family’s side (as seen below). Alpine along with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem chimed in to urge fans to not resort to online abuse, which has increased in recent times due to the rise of social media.
“As an F1 team, we believe we are fortunate to be part of a global sport that evokes great passion and emotions, with an ever-growing community of fans who enthusiastically follow their favourite drivers every move, whether it be a brave overtake ontrack or what style they are sporting when they arrive in the paddock,” said Alpine in an statement.
“We encourage everyone to remember that behind the visor of these superhuman athletes there is a person. And individual with feelings, family, friends and loved ones. As a team, we cannot condone online abuse and urge all fans of this sport we love, to be kind and respectful.”
Meanwhile, Sulayem added: “Motorsport is built on competition, passion, and commitment, and ever race drivers take to the track representing these values. The passion and excitement that we feel for our sport should unite us and never be twisted into abuse or hatred. I stand in full support of Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto, and I thank them for speaking out against the growing issue of online abuse in motorsport. No one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination.
“There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community. Through the united against online abuse campaign, we are taking decisive action – raising awareness, providing support, and driving change. We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone in our sport, and together we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all.”
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