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Franco Colapinto has called out the atmosphere that led to Kimi Antonelli being targeted after the Qatar Grand Prix, urging the FIA to step in and address the issue of online abuse. The Alpine rookie said that the situation escalated because strong voices from Red Bull framed Antonelli’s late-race mistake in a way that encouraged hostility.
Antonelli’s trouble began with his slide at Turn 10 on the penultimate lap, which allowed Lando Norris to grab fourth and increase the championship lead. Helmut Marko reacted instantly, questioning whether the Mercedes rookie had moved aside intentionally. The team withdrew the claim after reviewing the footage, but Antonelli received waves of abuse as a result and briefly turned his social channels private.
Mercedes pushed the matter to the FIA, which issued a formal statement through its United Against Online Abuse program, stressing that the tone set by key figures had a direct impact on the attacks. Red Bull later apologized, but the situation continued to draw criticism across the paddock.
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Speaking about the Red Bull leadership, Colapinto said, via Motorsports.com:
“I think we also need to be more careful with what we say after or during races. Watching the post-race interviews, I understand where the hatred towards Kimi came from, and that's something that needs to be prevented before it even arises, because there's always someone who stirs it up, and that's where we need to focus our efforts—avoiding those situations.”
When asked about the FIA intervention, Franco Colapinto added:
“I was just thinking about the fines we get for swearing on TV or in the media, and then about people who, without thinking or having all the information or the full picture, say things that generate hatred, which is much worse than saying 'sh*t' or whatever. That creates something much bigger, and they don’t face any consequences... I’m not the one who decides, so I won’t get too involved, but it’s probably something that should be reviewed.”
Franco Colapinto expanded on the point, arguing that statements from influential personnel shape the way fans react.
Kimi Antonelli was on worn tires, defending against a faster McLaren when he drifted wide. Red Bull’s complaints, combined with Gianpiero Lambiase’s radio message hinting at intent, gave the moment a tone it never carried. Verstappen reportedly contacted his team to urge a full public apology to Antonelli.
Toto Wolff also clarified Mercedes’ position, saying he had confronted Lambiase after the race and accepted that the engineer had misread the situation in real time. Kimi Antonelli has since restored his social accounts and returned to the paddock, preparing for the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.
“The easiest way to handle it is simply not to look at it,” says Franco Colapinto
Earlier this year, Alpine’s Jack Doohan faced a wave of anger when he lost his seat to Franco Colapinto. Yuki Tsunoda experienced the same after he clashed with the Argentine in June. F1, F2, F3, and the FIA issued a joint warning then, urging fans to refrain from online hostility. Colapinto has lived this cycle repeatedly and understands how it spills beyond racing results.
Speaking in the same interview, Colapinto explained his own approach:
“It’s not something I really care about or watch, and I think that’s the easiest way to deal with it. It’s just people behind a keyboard typing things, and there’s nothing you can do about it… So I think the easiest way to handle it is simply not to look at it, not to focus on it, not to give importance to what you see on social media... I think most drivers have experienced it at some point this year and, unfortunately, it’s becoming the norm.”
The two rookies now head into the Abu Dhabi GP with contrasting seasons behind them. Kimi Antonelli sits two points behind Lewis Hamilton in the standings, while Franco Colapinto continues to search for his first points as an Alpine driver.
