Dismay in the world of motors, F1 and IndyCar at the death threats suffered by a driver from the McLaren circle. Meanwhile, Ferrari is optimistic towards Canada and Red Bull will shortly announce Perez’s renewal
Social media is a cross and a delight. In the world of sport as in everyday life. It happens more and more often that haters take over the comments. The world of motors is not a happy island in this sense. The pilot who has been in the last few days knows something about it victim of death threats for a risky maneuver performed during the race. Messages that sparked his reaction and that of his team, in this case respectively Theo PunchaireF2 champion and tester of the McLaren And Stake Sauber. The context? The American Championship IndyCar.
Meanwhile the circus is already at Montreal where from Friday we start to get serious with the Canadian Grand Prix. It could be an important race for Ferrari after the success of Leclerc in Monte Carlo. But the drivers’ market is also always going crazy. This week the divorce announced between Alpine And Or with sparked some social speculation and then the Red Bull He played around with it a bit.
F1, Theo Pourchaire threatened with death: McLaren’s reaction
Dismay in the world of Formula 1 at the death threats to which the McLaren driver was subjected Theo Pourchaire, reigning Formula 2 champion, as well as among the testers of the Woking team and reserve of the Sauber Stake F1.
The Frenchman is taking part in the championship IndyCar American in an Arrow McLaren Chevrolet after regular driver David Malukas, suffered a wrist injury that ended his 2024 season. Last Sunday on lap 60 of the chaotic Detroit Grand Prix, Pourchaire collided with the Argentinian Agustín Canapino during a restart causing both to retire.
Pourchaire’s clumsy action sparked negative comments from many insiders, but as it was only his third race in IndyCar it didn’t go any further. It’s a shame, however, that the usual “Shitstorm” broke out on social media. Among these haters, more than one threatened the pilot with death, as admitted and denounced by Pourchaire himself.
Source: Imago98 Theo Pourchaire FRA, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake, F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo by HOCH ZWEI Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates *** 98 Theo Pourchaire FRA, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake , F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on November 24, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Photo by HOCH ZWEI Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
F1, death threats: Pourchaire’s complaint, McLaren defends him
It was the French pilot himself who reported what happened with a tweet:
I’m sad to have received so much hate and death threats in the last 24 hours for such a small accident in the Detroit GP. I hope people understand that we are all human and that we can make mistakes. But it’s not normal to abuse people online. Please be kind to each other
The team’s response was not long in coming, McLaren which again on X stigmatized the threats with a clear message via the Indycar Arrow team profile:
“Arrow McLaren and Juncosh Hollinger Racing will not tolerate any form of abuse or discrimination. Those who participate in such actions are not welcome in our online community.”
F1, Ferrari: Monaco, the turning point, in Montreal for confirmation
And then there is Ferrari. Who won in Monaco and is going to Canada with renewed enthusiasm. Again. If it is true that Montercarlo is often a race in itself due to the layout of the track, however, there is no question, on the contrary, the progress of the SF-24. If in Imola someone was disappointed by the package of updates which had only produced a 3rd place with Leclerc, even if only 7″ from the leading duo, and a 5th for Sainz, in Monte Carlo the Ferrari she appeared perky. But obviously we must not lower our guard as Vasseur highlighted this week.
Developments must necessarily continue and in the next races, we will always see something new, from Silverstone to Hungary in what will inevitably be a hot summer. But first there is Canada. The simulations indicate a competitive Ferrari in Quebec, an SF-24 capable of fighting with Red Bull and McLaren. The final judgment obviously belongs to the track.
F1, market: Alpine-Ocon divorce teases Red Bull on social media but Perez is close to a renewal
Fortunately, social media also serves to create nice sideshows. Red Bull knows something about it and seized the opportunity to generate some hype around an alleged imminent announcement as per the post published a few days ago. The fact that just a few hours later Alpine had announced the end of the relationship with Esteban Ocon at the end of the season led more than one to believe that the French driver would join Red Bull in Perez’s place to team up with Verstappen from 2025.
None of this. And Red Bull’s social media managers joked about it a bit with a joking reply recalling the Piastri case from a couple of years ago when there was a dispute between Alpine and McLaren: “We understand that, without our consent, Alpine released a statement regarding Esteban Ocon, causing much speculation with our message to remain alert“.
Staying on the Red Bull theme, it’s a matter of time, perhaps minutes: Sergio Perez would have convinced Marko and Horner to confirm him for the 2025 season alongside Max Verstappen. One year contract with option for a second.
