The FIA on Tuesday issued a statement denouncing the online abuse directed at its Dutch Grand Prix stewards, after a senior executive at Franco Colapinto’s main sponsor publicly attacked the officials who penalised the Alpine driver.
“Following the Dutch Grand Prix, FIA stewards were targeted with online abuse after applying sporting penalties in line with FIA regulations. 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 governing body added that its United Against Online Abuse coalition was set up in 2023 after a steward faced targeted abuse following the United States Grand Prix.
The sponsor’s outburst
The trigger was a post from Sean Summers, chief marketing officer of Mercado Libre, the Latin American e-commerce group whose branding is carried on Colapinto’s Alpine. Summers wrote on X after the race.
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“The Stewards are killing the integrity of F1. This season they are proving to be horrible.”
The penalties at Zandvoort
Colapinto was punished twice on the opening lap at Zandvoort. He was given a drive-through penalty and two superlicence points for overtaking Yuki Tsunoda while double yellow flags were being waved. He then picked up a 10-second time penalty and a further point for failing to slow for yellows at Turn 3, according to Motorsport Week. His superlicence total now stands at four points across the 12-month rolling period.
Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad received an identical drive-through and two points for a similar move on Pierre Gasly at Turn 14 on the same opening lap.
Colapinto finished 14th and told reporters the calls had cost him the race.
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“It was the drive-through that compromised the whole of our race.”
“I feel they have been extremely harsh. I mean, it’s their job, but it’s also their job to be a bit flexible and understand the situation.”
Alpine backs the FIA
Alpine’s own reading was more measured than its sponsor’s. In a statement to Crash.net, the team said it trusted the officials and accepted the sporting basis of the sanctions.
“The penalties applied for Yellow Flag Infringements during the opening laps of the Dutch Grand Prix were indeed harsh, but acknowledge they fit the punishment based on the letter of the law and were consistently applied across all competitors.”
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The FIA’s Tuesday statement addressed the abuse of officials in general terms and did not name any individual sponsor, driver or team.
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