Yuki Tsunoda has expressed his concern over the aggressive online reactions from a segment of Franco Colapinto’s fanbase, following an incident during practice that led to Tsunoda receiving a barrage of online abuse, much of which was racially charged. This incident occurred when Tsunoda had to back off during a push lap to avoid a collision with Colapinto, which he interpreted as an unnecessary risk by the Argentine driver.
After the practice session, Tsunoda gestured towards Colapinto, which some fans misinterpreted as an offensive gesture. This misunderstanding provoked a negative backlash, particularly from Colapinto’s more passionate supporters, resulting in hateful comments flooding Tsunoda’s social media pages.
Tsunoda, who emerged unscathed from a subsequent crash during qualifying, addressed the matter with regret. He acknowledged that while fan passion is understandable, there should be limits to acceptable behavior. “It’s good they have energy, but just control it,” he stated, also pointing out that the harassment extended to other drivers, including Jack Doohan, which he deemed unnecessary.
Colapinto weighed in as well, acknowledging the fervor of his fans but urging them to maintain respect for other competitors. He noted that while passionate support is a hallmark of Latin American fans, this should not translate into hostility towards fellow drivers.
The issue of unacceptable fan behavior has been a recurring theme in motorsport, as highlighted by management figures like Jamie Campbell-Walter, who has called for a more positive expression of support, emphasizing that abusive conduct does more harm than good.
Overall, the dialogue initiated by both Tsunoda and Colapinto reflects a broader need for respectful fan engagement in sports, aiming to foster a healthier and more supportive atmosphere among competitors and their supporters alike. As the motorsport community continues to grapple with these challenges, there is hope that constructive conversations will lead to improvements in fan conduct moving forward.