Gasly denounces social media threats after Alpine teammate dispute – Pierre Gasly has condemned threats and personal attacks directed at him, his girlfriend and his family following the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, insisting that social media abuse has crossed a line.
“I’m a top athlete, so I know I’m in the spotlight, it always has been. But I find the extent of the threats and attacks completely inappropriate,” the Alpine driver said ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, according to The Race.
Gasly said he accepts that public figures will attract criticism, but objected strongly to abuse extending beyond him to people close to him.
The Frenchman was particularly unhappy that his girlfriend and family members had also become targets following events at the Madrid race.
“I don’t think that should be the case,” Gasly emphasised.
Gasly and Colapinto clash over team orders
The backlash reportedly followed a tense situation between Gasly and his Alpine teammate Franco Colapinto during the Spanish Grand Prix.
Colapinto was running behind Gasly and asked Alpine to allow him through, believing he had greater pace. However, the team did not bring Gasly into the pits until considerably later.
Colapinto ultimately finished seventh but made his frustration clear over the team radio, directing criticism towards both Alpine and Gasly during the race.
The reaction from some fans subsequently moved beyond criticism of the on-track situation, with Gasly saying that threats and attacks had been directed at him and those close to him.
Gasly: “There’s a certain line”
Gasly acknowledged that disagreement between drivers and fans is part of modern Formula 1, but argued that social media anonymity should not remove basic boundaries.
“You can be liked or disliked, that’s perfectly fine, but there’s a certain line you shouldn’t cross just because you’re sitting behind a screen and a keyboard. And those lines are crossed far too often,” Gasly said.
His comments highlight a recurring issue in Formula 1, where incidents between teammates can quickly generate intense reactions online.
Drivers can face criticism for decisions made during races, but Gasly’s complaint was specifically focused on threats and personal attacks involving people who were not part of the sporting dispute.
Colapinto backs his teammate
Colapinto also expressed support for Gasly’s position, saying he had not personally seen the social media reaction because he does not use the platforms frequently.
“I didn’t hear about it because I’m not on social media that often, but it’s never nice to experience something like that, especially when it involves the team I drive for,” said the 23-year-old.
The Argentine also stressed that the relationship between the two Alpine drivers remains positive despite the disagreement in Madrid.
“We’re teammates and get along very well. We’re all working towards the same result and have the same goal, which is to make Alpine better.”
The episode therefore appears to have created a clear distinction between the competitive disagreement inside Alpine and the subsequent reaction from sections of the online audience.
For Gasly, criticism of his driving or decisions is part of being a Formula 1 driver. Threats directed towards his family and girlfriend, however, are a boundary he believes should not be crossed.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
