Agustín Canapino has finally weighed in on the troubling allegations surrounding Théo Pourchaire. Amid claims that Canapino’s Argentinian fanbase has bombarded the McLaren driver with hateful and threatening messages, Canapino firmly dismisses the idea that Pourchaire has been subjected to such extreme abuse.
This all started during the IndyCar Detroit Grand Prix when Théo Pourchaire accidentally made contact with Agustín Canapino on the 60th lap. The incident, considered a typical racing incident due to the narrow track, resulted in Pourchaire being penalized and forced to give up three positions. This should have been the end of it, but Pourchaire soon revealed on social media that he had received an avalanche of hateful messages, prompting his Arrow McLaren team to publicly condemn the abuse.
In response, Canapino took to X (formerly known as Twitter) where he issued a statement in both Spanish and English. His message was clear: he has not seen any death threats targeting Pourchaire. ‘Of course, I am against abuse and hate. Those who engage in such behavior are certainly not part of our community and are not welcome here. Also, we Argentines are passionate and euphoric, but that doesn’t mean we should be accused of something we are not,’ Canapino stated. ‘Therefore, I strongly reject being generalized and placed in a category we don’t deserve. I have not seen a single death threat directed at those who claim to have received them. From last year to today, no one in their right mind would do such a thing. It’s outrageous to be accused of this so lightly, and I won’t allow it anymore.’
Canapino went on to express his own experiences with online hate, mentioning that he constantly receives abusive messages but has learned to live with them and chooses to ignore them. He emphasized the importance of respect and tolerance, urging everyone to reconsider their actions: ‘Lastly, I take this opportunity to invite everyone to reconsider and help others reconsider that we must base our actions on respect above all. We are free to express our emotions and feelings, but with respect and tolerance. It’s the best way to evolve and become better as a society.’
However, Canapino’s social media activity painted a more complicated picture. Fans noticed that Canapino had ‘liked’ a number of posts that were disparaging towards Pourchaire or former teammate Callum Ilott. For instance, he liked a post from ESPN Latin America IndyCar commentator Martin Ponte, who referred to Pourchaire dismissively. Following backlash, Canapino cleaned up his liked posts but continued to engage with posts questioning the validity of Pourchaire’s claims.
Marshall Pruett of RACER has reported that he has seen the threats sent to Pourchaire and that Arrow McLaren has shared these messages with Juncos Hollinger Racing. This revelation casts doubt on Canapino’s dismissal of the allegations and raises questions about the broader fan culture within the sport.
The incident and its aftermath are further complicated by the business relationship between Juncos Hollinger Racing and Arrow McLaren. The two teams have a sponsorship arrangement that could be affected by this ongoing feud. The full impact on their working relationship remains to be seen.
Hate and abuse in motorsport are unacceptable and should not be tolerated. While Agustín Canapino denies the death threats against Théo Pourchaire, the situation underscores the broader issue of online abuse in the sport. The future of the relationship between Juncos Hollinger Racing and Arrow McLaren remains uncertain as this controversy unfolds.
Source: Planetf1
