The FIA has condemned the online abuse directed at Formula 1 stewards following the penalty handed to Franco Colapinto at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix and is considering legal action in defence of the officials involved. The controversy erupted after the Alpine driver overtook Yuki Tsunoda under double yellow flags at the end of the opening lap at Zandvoort, triggering a strong reaction among some Argentine fans.
The penalty imposed on Franco Colapinto for overtaking another car under yellow flags quickly became one of the most debated incidents of the Dutch Grand Prix, particularly in Argentina, where many supporters reacted angrily to the sanction given to the Alpine driver.
Franco Colapinto penalised after overtaking Yuki Tsunoda under double yellow flags
The incident began on the exit of the final corner, where Max Verstappen crashed into the barriers, leaving a significant amount of debris on the circuit and immediately prompting double yellow flags. With Max Verstappen’s Red Bull remaining close to the middle of the track, several cars, including Yuki Tsunoda’s, had to slow down in order to avoid the Dutchman, while others attempted to navigate their way through the traffic.
Franco Colapinto was among them. The Argentine completed an overtake on Yuki Tsunoda close to the scene of the accident and within the section where the double yellow flags were being displayed. Further ahead, Arvid Lindblad picked up a tow and passed Alpine driver Pierre Gasly before crossing the finish line. Pierre Gasly, like Yuki Tsunoda, had slowed down to avoid becoming involved in another accident.
In Franco Colapinto’s case, the overtake was almost unintentional. Given the closing speed, his alternatives were effectively to brake extremely hard to avoid passing Yuki Tsunoda or to complete the move. After the race, the Argentine explained that he had not wanted to “slam on the brakes” because doing so could have triggered a chain-reaction accident that would have been even more dangerous.
There was, however, another factor considered by the stewards. Franco Colapinto made no attempt to hand the position back before race control displayed the red flag, despite there being enough time to do so. Even with the mitigating circumstances surrounding the incident, the stewards therefore decided that a penalty was necessary.
FIA stewards explain why Franco Colapinto was penalised
“Car 43 was behind Car 22 entering Turn 14 and overtook Car 22 in the double yellow flag sector before the line at the end of Lap 1. Normally, such an infringement requires a 10-second stop/go penalty, but the Stewards acknowledge the complications caused by the significant amount of debris on track at this point and take this into account as mitigating circumstances,” the stewards explained in their decision.
Franco Colapinto considered the penalty extremely harsh. Under the regulations, however, the sanctions imposed on both the Argentine and Arvid Lindblad were clear cases because the governing body treats safety-related infringements with particular severity, especially given that neither driver attempted to return the position gained.
The FIA nevertheless took the mitigating circumstances into account and reduced the severity of the sanctions. The incidents occurred during an exceptionally complicated opening lap, with debris scattered across the circuit following Max Verstappen’s crash and several drivers taking evasive action.
Mercado Libre comments fuel backlash against FIA stewards
The controversy escalated further when Franco Colapinto’s Argentine sponsor Mercado Libre went significantly further in its social media reaction, questioning the integrity of the FIA stewards. Those comments added further fuel to the debate online, where the officials subsequently received threats and insults.
Alpine’s own social media accounts were also targeted by supporters who believed the team had not done enough to defend Franco Colapinto. The reaction prompted the team to publicly clarify its position on Monday.
“We have full confidence in the FIA and the stewards when it comes to policing these rules and applying sporting penalties during the race,” Alpine said. “We believe the penalties applied for yellow flag infringements during the opening laps of the Dutch Grand Prix were indeed harsh, but acknowledge that they are appropriate based on the letter of the regulations and were consistently applied to all competitors, representing something we can analyse and learn from as a team.”
FIA condemns online abuse and considers legal action
The FIA, which established its United Against Online Abuse campaign to combat online abuse in sport, expressed its disappointment over the situation and issued a statement condemning the attacks on its officials. The governing body is also considering legal action.
“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 also recalled why the initiative was originally created.
“In 2023, the FIA launched the United Against Online Abuse coalition after a steward faced targeted abuse following the United States Grand Prix. We urge everyone engaging with our sport to do so with respect and responsibility, both online and offline.”
The episode has therefore moved beyond the sporting debate surrounding Franco Colapinto’s penalty. What began as a controversial decision following a chaotic opening lap at Zandvoort has developed into a wider issue involving online abuse of race officials, with the FIA now considering how best to protect its stewards from threats and personal attacks.
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