The FIA has been forced to release a statement after a penalty handed to Franco Colapinto at the Dutch Grand Prix resulted in the 'targeted abuse' of race stewards. The decision, which saw the Argentine handed a drive-through and two penalty points, sparked a wave of online fury among his fans.
The controversy began when Colapinto overtook Yuki Tsunoda under double-waved yellow flags moments after Max Verstappen crashed out of the race on lap one. Colapinto described the sanction as "very harsh" given the chaos unfolding at high speed, but the stewards followed the regulations to the letter, with Arvid Lindblad receiving the same penalty for a near-identical incident.
Colapinto was later handed a second penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags, compounding his misery. The Argentine's frustration was echoed by Sean Summers, chief marketing officer of his main sponsor Mercado Libre, who wrote on X: "[The] FIA stewards are killing the integrity of F1," further inflaming an already tense situation.
In response, the FIA issued a strong condemnation of the abuse directed at its officials. "Following the Dutch Grand Prix, FIA stewards were targeted with online abuse after applying sporting penalties in line with FIA regulations," the statement read. "The United Against Online Abuse coalition condemns all forms of abuse and harassment. Disagreement with decisions is part of sport, but it must never justify threats or personal attacks."
The FIA also reminded that the coalition was launched in 2023 after a steward faced targeted abuse following the United States Grand Prix. They urged everyone involved in the sport to act with respect and responsibility, both online and offline.
This incident highlights the growing pressure on race officials and the need to protect them from online harassment. As the sport continues to expand its global reach, the FIA's stance sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated, preserving the integrity of Formula 1.
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