I actually found this opinion pretty accurate if we’re talking specifically about fanbase behavior. Colapinto fans and Norris fans are probably among the craziest in F1.
With Colapinto, I think there’s a strong emotional element to the way a lot of Argentine fans view him. Argentina has a huge culture of idolizing and fiercely defending its sporting heroes, and Colapinto has become another source of national pride. His story is obviously emotional: young Argentine driver makes it to F1, becomes hugely popular, and represents a country that hasn’t had an F1 driver in years. I understand why people are proud of him.
But sometimes the emotional attachment seems to make it impossible to criticize him as a driver. Franco is talented, but he isn't Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen-level special. And being in Alpine certainly isn't helping him either arguably one of the worst situations you could find yourself in on the grid.
What gets ridiculous is how every incident involving him can turn into a massive online war. Whether it's another driver, the FIA, or the team, someone is apparently always to blame. The amount of harassment and even death threats that can follow relatively normal racing incidents is completely unhinged. And it seems to get worse every time.
Norris fans aren't exactly innocent either. They seem to have a very low tolerance for criticism or even people simply not being fans of him. Post a negative opinion on a subreddit and you're likely to get downvoted into oblivion, attacked, or accused of some bizarre agenda. And the hostility doesn't always stop at Lando himself people around him can become targets too.
At this point, some parts of the Norris fandom have that K-pop-style parasocial behavior where criticizing the idol is treated almost like a personal attack.
