Speaking to Fox Sports' Loud Pedal Podcast, McLaughlin said the criticism had taken its toll on Coulthard.

"It's been bloody hard for him… he's struggling," said McLaughlin. "Not only him, but the team, Alex and I too.

"It's not the place we want to be in, but as we always do, we'll stick together as a team and get through it.

"But what I'll say is social media is out of control. So-called fans sending death threats to drivers like Fabian is pathetic.

"People sending that kind of bulls**t to real people, who have families, who have real lives, to deal with it is really... for me, it's unacceptable and it's all created by the media controversy that has been blown out of proportion."

McLaughlin added the controversy had taken the gloss of his lifetime dream of winning Australia's biggest motorsport race.

He said, when the incident occurred, more than 30 laps were left and two more safety car incidents also changed the complexion of the race.

"What probably should be the greatest week of my life, I'm not going to lie, it has been a bit sad and it could have been a lot better for us to enjoy it.

"But I think, from my point of view and Alex's point of view, we have enjoyed it as a pairing, away from it, but it has been a bit frustrating not to fully enjoy it.

"Bathurst is always unpredictable and there's always woulda, coulda, shoulda stories.

"I think there's some people in other teams that should be focusing on their internal team issues, before they kick-on about us.

"That's what's pissing me off a lot about the whole thing. It is frustrating and ridiculous."

Earlier this week, Kiwi supercars legend Greg Murphy told Newshub there is "no way" McLaughlin would be stripped of his title.

McLaughlin was the first full-time Kiwi driver - since Murphy in 2004 - to win Bathurst.

With seven races left in the season, McLaughlin holds a 622-point lead over van Gisbergen in the Supercars championship.

The series resumes on October 26, with two races scheduled at the Gold Coast 600.

Newshub.