FIA Condemns Online Abuse Following Sanctions of Franco Colapinto

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) issued a statement repudiating hate messages, threats, and personal attacks directed at race stewards following the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The governing body noted that while disagreeing with sporting decisions is part of the sport, such disagreements do not justify online abuse. The FIA referenced its 2023 United Against Online Abuse coalition, which was established after a steward suffered targeted attacks following the United States Grand Prix.

The backlash followed several penalties issued during the race, most notably those given to Argentine driver Franco Colapinto. Colapinto received a stop and go penalty for overtaking Yuki Tsunoda in a double yellow flag sector shortly after a heavy accident involving Max Verstappen. While this infraction typically carries a ten second penalty, stewards reduced it to five seconds due to the amount of debris on the track. Colapinto also received two penalty points on his superlicense for the move and a later ten second penalty for exceeding the speed limit under another yellow flag.

Colapinto criticized the decisions as extremely harsh and lacking flexibility given the wet conditions and the danger of the situation. He argued that he saw the yellow flags very late and that braking suddenly on a wet track would have been more dangerous. Some social media users defended the driver and claimed he was being discriminated against for being Latino. Both center right sources report that other drivers, including Liam Lawson and Carlos Sainz, also received penalties during the event.