Franco Colapinto has been the subject of online ‘hate’ following Ollie Bearman’s high-speed crash in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, according to his management.

Colapinto’s Alpine was in front of Bearman’s Haas in Lap 22 of the 53-lap race when the catastrophe struck. Bearman attempted to overtake Colapinto, but his car instead ended up on the grass before spinning and crashing out at the Spoon Curve.

Having hit the barrier on the outside of the corner, Bearman was able to move himself from the car but was seen limping as he made his way from the track and then transferred to the circuit’s Medical Centre. The Brit was later given the all-clear after an X-ray revealed he had not suffered any fractures.

The impact of Bearman’s crash was recorded at 50G, with the Haas driver going at 308km/h when he lost control of his car before crashing.

Some have blamed the crash on the new Formula 1 regulations, which has seen huge speed differences between drivers in close proximity. This has been put down to battery management, with Max Verstappen describing it as like ‘Mario Kart’.

But despite this, Colapinto’s management has confirmed that he has been blamed for the incident, with some fans giving him ‘hate’ on social media.

Bullet Sports Management said: “A race to forget. Franco was doing a great job before he got unlucky with the timing of the Safety Car, which ruined his chances of fighting for points.

“We also can’t ignore the incident that led to Ollie Bearman’s crash, one in which Franco was not at fault. It was a consequence of the new energy management rules, as confirmed by the FIA’s official statement. Despite this, Franco is receiving unjustified criticism and hate, so let’s show him all the love and support he deserves.”

When asked by a fan to speak about threats Colapinto was receiving, Bullet replied: “We don’t have any influence over any other driver’s fans, and chances are they don’t even follow us. It’s not our responsibility to worry about their fandoms. We leave that to their teams and people. We’re grateful that the majority of Franco’s fans are kind and supportive.”

Bullet added: “Guys, don’t worry. Franco is in great hands and has all the support he needs. He’s stronger than you think, and negative comments or name-calling won’t affect him.

“Don’t waste your energy on the haters. Put it into supporting Franco instead. He’s surrounded by the right people who are making sure he feels safe and happy, so you can relax.”

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A statement from FIA on Bearman’s crash read: “Following the accident involving Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix and the contribution of high closing speeds in the accident, the FIA would like to provide the following clarifications.

“Since their introduction, the 2026 regulations have been the subject of ongoing discussions between the FIA, Teams, Power Unit Manufacturers, Drivers and FOM. By design, these regulations include a number of adjustable parameters, particularly in relation to energy management, which allow for optimisation based on real-world data.

“It has been the consistent position of all stakeholders that a structured review would take place after the opening phase of the season, to allow for sufficient data to be gathered and analysed. A number of meetings are therefore scheduled in April to assess the operation of the new regulations and to determine whether any refinements are required.

“Any potential adjustments, particularly those related to energy management, require careful simulation and detailed analysis. The FIA will continue to work in close and constructive collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for the sport and safety will always remain a core element of the FIA’s mission. At this stage, any speculation regarding the nature of potential changes would be premature. Further updates will be communicated in due course.”

Bearman clarified that he didn’t suffer any serious injuries as he opened up on the incident post-race.

“Everything’s good, first of all,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m absolutely fine. It was a scary moment that happened out there but everything’s ok, which is the main thing. The car is a bit worse for wear, but we have a month now to reset and come back. I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart to the team for that because it’s a lot of work for them.”

With Bearman recording a Did Not Finish (DNF), Colapinto ended up crossing the line in 16th.