F1 Drivers Call for Respect After Online Abuse Incident

IMOLA, Italy — After receiving online abuse following a minor incident during practice at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto are urging fans to be respectful.

The incident occurred on May 16, 2025, when the Argentine rookie, Colapinto, who drives for Alpine, accidentally blocked Tsunoda during the first Friday practice session. Tsunoda, clearly frustrated, gestured at his fellow driver, which led to a wave of abusive comments directed at Tsunoda on social media.

“I know they are extremely passionate, and they are always very harsh on people,” Colapinto said. “They have to give respect, and that’s what we all want.” He emphasized the need to keep social media interactions respectful even amid passionate rivalries.

Jamie Campbell-Walter, Colapinto’s manager, echoed this sentiment after Tsunoda’s teammate, Jack Doohan, also received negative comments. He pointed out, “The haters who think they help Franco. You are doing him more harm than good.”

Tsunoda, who moved up to the main Red Bull team from Racing Bulls in April as a replacement for another demoted driver, expressed his concerns during a media briefing. “I heard about it. To be honest, I guess it’s not just about me,” he said, referring to the broader abuse directed toward other drivers. “They’re going for Jack [Doohan], and he didn’t do anything wrong.”

The Japanese driver provided context about the frustration that led to the on-track incident, explaining that he encountered traffic repeatedly during his flying lap. “I think I have the right to say something,” he clarified. “I just expressed my frustration, and that’s it.”

Tsunoda underscored that while fans have the right to support their drivers, it is essential to respect the line that shouldn’t be crossed. “It’s good that they have energy, but control it. They can use their energy in a better way,” he urged.

He also noted that if the online abuse continues to escalate, Formula 1 should intervene. “If it continues and gets worse and worse, then at some point F1 should say something,” Tsunoda stated. As the drivers push for a more respectful fan environment, it remains uncertain how F1 will address the growing issue of online abuse.