Tribal Social Media Toxins Ruining F1 Fans – How to Fix It?

Tribal and toxic social media sour F1 fandom, but what can be done?

F1 fans have shown increasing passion in recent years, but issues with online abuse are now troubling the sport.

At Imola, Franco Colapinto drew crowds of supporters despite finishing 16th, demonstrating the intense interest surrounding his career.

Colapinto, just 21, joined Williams at Monza last season, which led to a surge in Argentinian fans.

TV viewership in Argentina climbed, and many traveled to support the country’s first F1 driver in 23 years.

Along with their support, some fans brought a confrontational attitude, especially online.

The sport’s growth on social media has made F1 more accessible but also more divisive.

Major events like the 2021 title fight between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen turned heated on social platforms.

Both drivers received large amounts of abuse, and officials like Michael Masi and Nicholas Latifi became targets after controversial incidents in Abu Dhabi.

Similar patterns followed last year after Liam Lawson’s clash with Sergio Perez in Mexico, as fans launched attacks on social media channels.

In recent weeks, Jack Doohan and Yuki Tsunoda were on the receiving end after Colapinto was chosen to race for Alpine, replacing Doohan.

Tsunoda faced negative messages after a simple on-track dispute with Colapinto, as detailed in reports on Tsunoda abuse at Imola.

A key moment came at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. A parody account posted a fake story claiming Jack Doohan’s father made fun of Colapinto’s crash.

Argentinian media reported it as real, intensifying the backlash. Tsunoda faced negative messages after a simple on-track dispute with Colapinto.

While many Argentinian fans spoke up in support and apologized, a vocal group remained aggressive.

Such behavior echoes troubling scenes in other sports—including the 2018 Copa Libertadores final, which was delayed after a violent attack on a team bus in Argentina.

The trend is not unique to Argentina or F1. When Argentinian driver Agustin Canapino entered IndyCar, his teammate Callum Ilott was targeted and even received threats.

In 2024, Theo Pourchaire reported death threats after an on-track incident, which resulted in Canapino leaving IndyCar and McLaren ending its partnership with his team.

Colapinto and others have asked fans to support drivers respectfully, noting that hate can harm the very athletes they admire.

Efforts to address the issue are ongoing. The FIA started the United Against Online Abuse campaign in 2023, joining other sporting groups and tech companies to tackle online abuse.

F1 teams also work to block inappropriate content.

However, some companies, such as Meta and X (formerly Twitter), have recently reduced content moderation teams, making the challenge even harder, reflecting concerns around self-interest among top F1 teams.

Governments like Australia’s are responding by restricting social media use for younger users, but there is no quick fix. The responsibility for positive change also involves media organizations.

Misinformation—such as the fake Doohan post—can spread quickly without careful verification.

Some media outlets gave attention to false or misleading stories, adding to the confusion.

While organizations and teams can only control so much, the broader solution will depend on social media platforms improving their standards and users behaving with greater respect.

For more on digital ethics and misinformation, the Stanford Internet Observatory provides valuable research.

Until platform moderation becomes stronger, everyone in the community—fans, media, teams, and officials—plays a role in reducing online toxicity.

F1 has stressed that all participants deserve respect, and the sport continues to call for meaningful action from social media giants.

The problem may not disappear soon, but greater awareness and responsible behavior can help make F1 fandom welcoming again.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.