Yuki Tsunoda has spoken out about the racist abuse he received online from fans of Franco Colapinto after a minor on-track incident between the two during the first practice session for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The skirmish, which took place on Friday, saw Tsunoda become frustrated after being impeded by Colapinto during a hot lap. In response, the Japanese driver gestured towards his rival, which led to an outpouring of vile messages from Colapinto's followers on social media.
Tsunoda Reacts to Abuse
During a media briefing after qualifying at Imola, Tsunoda was asked about the abuse and his reaction to it. Tsunoda said, "I heard about it. To be honest, I guess it's not just about me, if I heard correctly. They're going everywhere, to be honest. They're going for Jack [Doohan], and he didn't do anything wrong, and they're going for it. So that's a bit unnecessary."
He elaborated on the situation that led to the incident with Colapinto during FP1, explaining that encountering traffic repeatedly on his flying lap led to his frustration. Tsunoda clarified, "It's normal that if you have traffic, and I caught it multiple times, you get frustrated. I think I have the right to say something. I didn't say the wrong thing, or a very bad thing. I just said [expressed] my frustration, and that's it."
Addressing the Fans' Behavior
The Red Bull driver acknowledged that fans have every right to support their drivers, but emphasized the importance of maintaining respect in doing so.
"I know they are supporting their own country's driver, but there's always a line [crossed] that they say something, I guess. And I'm saying this because it's not [just] to me, but they say things to Doohan," Tsunoda added. He also made a plea for fans to channel their energy positively: "It's good that they have energy, but control it. I feel like they can use the energy in the right way, a better way."
F1 Should Intervene if Abuse Escalates
Tsunoda made it clear that if the abuse escalates further, he believes it is imperative for F1 to take action. "If it continues and it gets worse and worse, then at some point F1 should say something," Tsunoda stated.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether F1 will intervene in this ongoing issue.
Yuki failed to qualify for imola after a shocking crash.