Alpine F1 team principal Flavio Briatore threatened a media blackout on its racer Franco Colapinto after teammate Pierre Gasly said he and his family had suffered social media abuse and threats following the Spanish Grand Prix.

The events unfolded following the race at the Madring track, where Gasly held up Colapinto, with the Frenchman finishing 12th and the Argentine driver seventh.

On Wednesday, Gasly said in an interview with F1 outlet The Race that he had faced extensive social media backlash due to the incident.

“I find it completely inappropriate, especially when it reaches out to family members, [my] girlfriend, etc. I don’t think that should be the case,” the 30-year-old driver said, adding that “a certain line that should not be crossed” had been “crossed many times” recently.

Briatore came out swinging after Gasly’s interview, saying that Argentine fans don’t support Colapinto “the right way.”

“They [should] support Franco cleanly, not what I see on social media,” he said, adding that if........

© Buenos Aires Herald