Franco Colapinto Makes Emotional Appeal to Fans Amid F1 Future-Affecting Instances

Franco Colapinto has urged his fans not to defend to an extent that hurts everyone around him, which includes his own future in F1.

Things have gone overboard to an extent that Alpine‘s Colapinto has had to release a nearly three-minute-long video message on Instagram to urge his fans to tone down their vocal support, which has overstepped boundaries.

For the second year in a row, Colapinto has been under fire, not because of his results on the F1 track, but because of his fans who have been attacking everyone, whenever there is an action related to the Argentine, whether on or off track.

The latest episode took place in Baku when Colapinto crashed into Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, where he also took out McLaren’s Lando Norris. The Brit – in the heat of the moment – called for a race ban. But toned down and apologised for his remarks.

Things were sorted between Norris and Colapinto. The outrage was not just limited to Norris, as the Argentine fans unleashed on Gasly and Alpine as well. Earlier in the year, they went after the FIA stewards over a penalty, as well.

In a video message in his own language, Colapinto urged his fans to improve and change and stop attacking everyone around him. To the extent that he feels it could harm his future as well, after rumblings that Alpine could drop him if things continue.

Colapinto Urges to Restrain in Support, Affects Future

“Hello everyone, there is something very important that I need to talk to you about some time ago,” said Colapinto. “I should have talked about it with all of you, but it is something necessary that we have to change, that we have to improve. I will always be grateful, and I really feel fortunate to have had them from the beginning.

“All the support they give me, how they help me get the results, how they push me to always go for more. To me and the team, and they help us get the results, race after race, day after day, training, trying to improve. And I’m really grateful for all that. I know it makes them feel very proud when I do well, when I score points.

“To me and the whole team, and I will always be very grateful for that. But there are times when we go too far. Instead of supporting me, we end up criticising, we end up attacking other drivers, other colleagues, my teammates, my mechanics, my engineers, the people I work with every day.

“I know they are thinking that they are defending me, but they are actually doing the opposite. They don’t help me, nor me, nor my future. And I really want them to understand that this is what we have to change, all together. We have to try to improve as a society,” summed up Colapinto, as he requested to use the support as a morale booster rather than making it an egotistical thing.

Colapinto Forced to Make an Appeal After Repeated Instances

Colapinto reiterates that he has already taken a break from social media, but despite him being away, things continue to happen, and he has to take a stand for his F1 colleagues and Alpine team members, which shouldn’t be his job.

He is out there to achieve his dream. The support of the fans is certainly required, but it shouldn’t come at a cost of demeaning others. He is grateful for such vocal support, which is not easy for a young racer in F1 who still needs to secure podiums or even race wins. But cautions them to be mindful of people and the families around them.

“And to help me have a better performance, to help me continue to achieve my dreams, my results, to keep scoring points,” continued Colapinto. “I need them to help me stop this, all together. We are going to keep fighting for me to do well. Obviously, some time ago, I made the decision to distance myself from social media, to take a break from social media, to focus on what really matters to me, to focus on my dream, on my sporting career.

Colapinto Makes a Passionate Plea

“To focus on the team, to achieve the results we want and the goals we need. So, I wanted to tell you that you are not going to explain to me, that we are going to keep seeing each other in the races. We are going to keep seeing each other, supporting each other. I want you to keep supporting the team, I want you to keep supporting me.

“And I am sure that we are going to achieve great results all together. So, let’s go for everything. We are going to keep pushing a lot, so that those good results come back, so that those points come back. Let’s go for everything as a big team.

“Let’s support each other, let’s bank on the good and the bad. And I am sure that we are going to see each other very, very soon in the races closer to home. A big hug. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for understanding. Thank you for banking on me and for always being there,” summed up Colapinto.