{"id":2684,"date":"2026-09-23T14:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T17:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=2684"},"modified":"2026-09-23T16:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T19:23:08","slug":"briatore-threatens-colapinto-media-blackout-unless-abuse-from-argentine-fans-stops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/briatore-threatens-colapinto-media-blackout-unless-abuse-from-argentine-fans-stops\/","title":{"rendered":"Briatore threatens Colapinto media blackout unless abuse from Argentine fans stops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Flavio Briatore has issued a direct warning to Argentine fans following online attacks against Pierre Gasly and his family.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Alpine executive adviser says Franco Colapinto could stop speaking to Argentine television if the abuse continues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Colapinto has defended Gasly and urged his supporters to behave respectfully after their Spanish GP controversy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Flavio Briatore has warned that <strong>Franco Colapinto could stop speaking to Argentine television and other media outlets<\/strong> unless abusive behaviour from sections of his fanbase ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alpine executive adviser intervened after Pierre Gasly revealed that he, his girlfriend and members of his family had received threats following the Spanish GP in Madrid. The attacks were connected to a late-race incident involving Gasly and Colapinto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf this continues, the moment will come when Franco stops speaking to Argentine television,\u201d Briatore told <em>ESPN Argentina<\/em>. \u201cHe will stop speaking to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Italian addressed Colapinto\u2019s supporters directly, making clear that Alpine considers the abuse damaging to the driver rather than helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m saying this especially to the Argentines because there are no problems with the Italians or anyone else,\u201d he continued. \u201cIf they want to support Franco, they must do it in a respectful and loyal way\u2014not like what I see on social media.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Briatore\u2019s warning represents Alpine\u2019s strongest response yet to the controversy. <strong>Colapinto has already publicly supported Gasly<\/strong>, saying the abuse directed at his teammate was unacceptable and calling on those responsible to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u26a0\ufe0f <strong>NEW: <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/how-colapinto-fan-abuse-escalated-from-online-attacks-to-threats-against-gaslys-family\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-admin\/post.php?post=2692&amp;action=edit\">How Colapinto fan abuse escalated from online attacks to threats against Gasly\u2019s family<\/a><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"F1 2026, IT\u00c1LIA, CLASSIFICA\u00c7\u00c3O, ALPINE, PIERRE GASLY, FRANCO COLAPINTO\" class=\"wp-image-1020313872\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/f1-2026-italia-classificacao-alpine-pierre-gasly-01-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly (Foto: F1)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spanish GP incident triggers threats against Gasly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dispute began during the closing stages of the Spanish GP. Colapinto caught Gasly while the Frenchman was running on older tyres and preparing to make a late pit stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alpine informed Gasly that his teammate was approaching, but the team did not issue a formal instruction ordering him to surrender the position. Colapinto became frustrated over the radio as the delay left him exposed to Oscar Piastri behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The matter was subsequently discussed internally by Colapinto, Gasly, Briatore and managing director Steve Nielsen. Both drivers indicated in Baku that Alpine had resolved the sporting disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The online reaction continued, however. Gasly said the attacks extended beyond criticism of his driving and reached his relatives and girlfriend, Francisca Gomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u201cThere were threats towards my family and my girlfriend,\u201d<\/strong> Gasly said. \u201cThere is a line that should never be crossed, and it was crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colapinto then <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/colapinto-defends-gasly-after-online-abuse-crosses-unacceptable-line\/\">defended Gasly and asked for the online abuse to stop<\/a>, stressing that no on-track disagreement could justify personal threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Briatore says abuse is harming Colapinto<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Briatore\u2019s intervention shifts the consequences towards Colapinto and the Argentine media. The threat is designed to make clear that continued attacks could reduce the access given to the country where the Alpine driver has developed an enormous following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also not the first time abusive messages associated with Colapinto\u2019s fanbase have created difficulties around Alpine. The team previously condemned attacks against Jack Doohan and rejected allegations that one driver was deliberately receiving inferior treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colapinto\u2019s representatives have also warned supporters that abuse directed at teammates or team personnel damages the Argentine\u2019s position inside Formula 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Briatore has now attached a tangible consequence to that warning: <strong>if the attacks persist, Colapinto\u2019s media appearances could be restricted<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gasly and Colapinto will remain teammates in 2027. The Argentine has already secured his place with Alpine, while Briatore has repeatedly described Gasly as one of the strongest drivers on the grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/\">Formula 1<\/a> begins track activity at the Azerbaijan GP on Thursday with FP1 at 09:30 UK and 04:30 ET.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">F1 today: FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race takes place on Saturday, September 26, because Sunday is Azerbaijan\u2019s Remembrance Day. The entire programme was moved forward, with practice on Thursday and qualifying on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What time does the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Azerbaijan GP starts at <strong>12:00 UK, 07:00 ET and 15:00 local time<\/strong> on Saturday. It will run for 51 laps around the 6.003km Baku City Circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Kimi Antonelli win the 2026 F1 championship in Azerbaijan?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Antonelli arrives in Baku with an <strong>81-point lead over George Russell<\/strong>, making him mathematically capable of securing the championship. To become champion, he must leave Azerbaijan at least <strong>75 points ahead<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What did Flavio Briatore say about Franco Colapinto\u2019s fans?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Briatore warned Argentine supporters to behave respectfully and said Colapinto could stop speaking to Argentine television and other media if the abuse continues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alpine executive adviser warns Franco Colapinto could stop speaking to Argentine television after Pierre Gasly and his family received threats<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1010342272,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Briatore issues ultimatum to Colapinto fans","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Alpine","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":7,"location":""}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[202,378,255,336],"42wp_author":[7],"class_list":["post-2684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-alpine","tag-flavio-briatore","tag-franco-colapinto","tag-pierre-gasly","42wp_author-victor-martins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2684"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2684\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2700,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2684\/revisions\/2700"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1010342272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2684"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=2684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}