F1 team call out fans in emotional statement after Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

The F1 team have urged their fans to "be kind and respectful" after Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda received abuse at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. During practice on Friday, the Japanese driver was accidentally blocked by Franco Colapinto, who was making his debut for his team after replacing Jack Doohan.

Tsunoda reacted angrily, gesturing towards the Argentine. His actions saw him targeted by Alpine fans online, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressing the issue on Monday evening. In an Instagram statement, he said: "No one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our (F1) community."

Alpine have now taken to their own social media channels to call out their supporters, saying: "As an F1 team, we believe we are fortunate to be part of a global sport that evokes great passion and emotions, with an ever-growing community of fans who enthusiastically follow their favourite drivers' every move, whether it be a brave overtake on track or what style they are sporting when they arrive in the paddock.

"We encourage evertone to remember that behind the visor of these superhuman athletes there is a person. An individual with feelings, family, friends and loved ones."

They concluded the message by saying: "As a team, we cannot condone online abuse and urge all fans of the sport we love, to be kind and respectful."

On Saturday, both Colapinto and Tsunoda suffered crashes in qualifying. The rivals were united, though, in calling out social media trolls, with .

Colapinto, 21, condemned fans for letting emotions get the better of them, saying: "I know they are extremely passionate, and they are very harsh on people. They have to give respect, and that's all we want.

"There is a lot of hate on social media. So of course, we always try and want, for all the drivers, to keep it respectful and keep it calm there."