Alpine and Ocon suffer vile online abuse after Alonso move

Sam Hall
Tuesday 2 August 2022 16:50 - Updated: 18:46

Alpine has been on the receiving end of vile online abuse after it was announced Fernando Alonso is to leave the team and join F1 rivals Aston Martin next season.

On Monday, the team discovered its two-year relationship with the two-time champion is to come to an end following Aston Martin's press release reveal.

But in the wake of the announcement, the team has been subjected to a storm of social media abuse, with expletive-laden rants directed at the Alpine management.

Racist and homophobic language, along with clown emojis, have been used, with team principal Otmar Szafnauer and drivers Esteban Ocon and Oscar Piastri bearing the brunt of the defamatory remarks.

The comments, which we will not share here, were in response to the team wishing Alonso well with Aston Martin.

We wish Fernando the best for his future in Formula 1. Fernando has always been, and always will be, part of the Renault and Alpine family and we’re proud and privileged to have shared so many on-track moments together. pic.twitter.com/hyZOVdOKHb

— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 1, 2022

'Drive it Out' message ignored

Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, F1 launched its 'Drive it Out' campaign designed to eliminate online and in-person abuse.

GPFans wholeheartedly supports this messaging.

A video featuring all 20 drivers, which can be viewed below, was shown prior to Sunday's grand prix but already this has been ignored.

We are united in our desire to drive abuse of all kinds out of the sport we love, and we're calling on the entire F1 family to join us.#DriveItOut. Together pic.twitter.com/u8hOeKsN6g

— GPFans Global (@GPFansGlobal) July 30, 2022