Yuki Tsunoda was subjected to verbal abuse on social media during the Imola Grand Prix weekend. The reason? His incident with Franco Colapinto during Free Practice 1 on Friday. Now, the FIA president has voiced his support for the Red Bull driver.
The Japanese driver called on F1 to take action after Franco Colapinto’s supporters posted disgusting messages directed at him.
Fans of the Argentine driver flooded social media after a minor incident between the two during FP1 at Imola. Yuki Tsunoda felt blocked and expressed his frustration, but Franco Colapinto’s fans did not take kindly to it and reacted with appalling comments online.
Once aware of the situation, Franco Colapinto urged his followers to stay calm and respectful. The FIA president also spoke up, stressing that no driver should be subjected to what Yuki Tsunoda endured.
On the FIA’s official Instagram profile, Ben Sulayem said: “Motorsport is based on competition, passion, and dedication, and every driver takes to the track representing those values. The passion and excitement we feel for our sport should unite us and must never turn into insults or hatred.”
“I offer my full support to Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto and thank them for speaking out against the growing problem of online abuse in motorsport. No one should be the target of threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community.”
“Through the ‘United Against Online Abuse’ campaign, we are taking decisive action: raising awareness, providing support, and promoting change. We are committed to protecting the well-being of everyone involved in our sport, and together we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all.”
Following the unpleasant events on Friday, curiously, both Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto were involved in violent crashes during Saturday’s qualifying session. In the race, the Red Bull driver finished P10 after starting from the pit lane, while the Alpine driver ended up outside the points in P16.
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