Alpine have condemned social media abuse targeted at Franco Colapinto and dismissed the “completely unfounded” suggestion they are favouring his team-mate Pierre Gasly.
Alpine said in an open letter that the team “condemns the hateful messages” aimed at Colapinto after the 22-year-old was involved in Oliver Bearman’s high-speed crash in Japan.
The Haas driver’s accident was a result of the near 30mph speed differential between his car and Colapinto’s Alpine, with the Argentine entering energy harvesting mode approaching Spoon curve while Bearman used the boost button.
While Colapinto has picked up just one point from the first three Formula 1 races of the season, Frenchman Gasly has taken 15.
Gasly, 30, finished seventh and the 22-year-old Colapinto was 16th at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Responding to fan concern regarding parity between the team’s cars, Alpine said: “Franco is our driver and the team has placed its trust in him, just as he has with the team. That is an indication of the commitment we have to Franco and his place in the team with equal footing alongside Pierre.
“Any questions about sabotage or not giving Franco the same car are completely unfounded, which is why the team felt the need to speak out.
“There might be times this year when pushing in the development race that upgrades come to one car first, which the team will communicate and be completely transparent about.
“That being said, the aim will always remain to bring upgrades to both cars where possible.”
Alpine also condemned the death threats directed at the team’s former racer Esteban Ocon, after Bearman’s Haas team-mate accepted blame for a collision with Colapinto in Shanghai last month.
“Esteban took full responsibility and apologised to Franco, actively seeking him out in the media pen and also apologising on social media. The resulting abuse that followed was not in the spirit of the sport and was an oversight not to call it out sooner,” Alpine said.
