Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly has condemned threats directed at him, his girlfriend and members of his family following the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, saying social media abuse has crossed a line that should not be ignored.
Gasly addressed the issue ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, after facing a wave of hostile comments following his on-track battle with Alpine teammate Franco Colapinto.
“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,” Gasly said, according to The Race.
The 30-year-old Frenchman made clear that he accepts criticism as part of competing at the highest level, but believes attacks against people close to him are unacceptable.
Gasly draws the line at threats against his family
Gasly was particularly concerned that the abuse had extended beyond him to his girlfriend and family members.
“I don’t think that should be the case,” the Alpine driver said, making clear that being a public figure should not mean those around him become targets for online abuse.
His comments came after tensions surrounding Alpine’s team-mate battle in Madrid spilled over onto social media.
Colapinto had been running behind Gasly and asked Alpine to allow him through, arguing that he was quicker. Gasly was not brought into the pits until considerably later, while Colapinto ultimately finished seventh.
The Argentine driver was unhappy with the situation and expressed his frustration over team radio, with some fans subsequently directing their anger towards Gasly.
Colapinto and Gasly clash becomes social media flashpoint
The incident between the two Alpine drivers appears to have provided the catalyst for some of the online reaction.
Gasly, however, believes there is an important distinction between criticism of a driver’s performance and personal attacks.
“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.
The Frenchman has previously spoken about the pressures that come with being a Formula 1 driver, but his latest comments underline the impact that social media abuse can have beyond the circuit.
For Gasly, the issue is not whether fans are entitled to disagree with his decisions or performance. It is where criticism turns into threats directed at individuals who are not part of the sporting dispute.
Colapinto backs his teammate’s message
Colapinto also supported Gasly’s position when asked about the situation.
“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,” the 23-year-old said.
The Argentine also stressed that the relationship between the two Alpine drivers remains positive despite their competitive battles on track.
“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 comments from both drivers highlight the difficult balance F1 competitors face in an era when every on-track incident can rapidly become a social media debate.
For Gasly, disagreement is part of sport. Threats against drivers or their families, he argues, cross a boundary that should not be treated as simply another consequence of competing in Formula 1.
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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.
