FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed that Alpine Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly received 13,000 death threats following his controversial on-track incident with teammate Franco Colapinto at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. The alarming figure has prompted the governing body’s president to warn that fans and even journalists responsible for serious online harassment could be banned from Formula 1 events.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with The Drive at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Mohammed Ben Sulayem outlined a tougher approach to online abuse, including plans to use artificial intelligence to identify individuals operating behind anonymous accounts. He also described the case of a female race steward who received death and rape threats so severe that she questioned whether she wanted to continue in her role. For the FIA president, the problem has reached a level that demands stronger measures than awareness campaigns alone.
Pierre Gasly receives 13,000 death threats after Franco Colapinto controversy
The incident that triggered the abuse took place on 13 September, during the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Pierre Gasly was running ahead of Franco Colapinto on heavily worn tyres, having extended his stint in the hope of benefiting from a possible Safety Car intervention.
Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto was coming under pressure from Oscar Piastri and repeatedly asked over team radio to be allowed past his Alpine teammate. However, the team did not issue an instruction for the two drivers to exchange positions, leaving the Argentine behind the Frenchman during the closing stages.
Pierre Gasly subsequently made his scheduled pit stop and eventually finished the race in 12th position, while Franco Colapinto retained seventh place. Although the incident was confined to a strategic disagreement on the circuit, its consequences extended far beyond the Grand Prix itself.
The controversy triggered a wave of hostile messages on social media. Pierre Gasly later revealed in Baku that he had been subjected to abuse and threats involving not only himself but also his girlfriend and other family members, as previously reported by Fanpage.it.
Franco Colapinto publicly distanced himself from the insults and urged his supporters to stop targeting other people. Nevertheless, the situation continued to attract attention, prompting Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore to warn that the team could restrict the Argentine driver’s television interviews if the attacks persisted.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has now put a figure on the alleged threats against Pierre Gasly, stating that the French driver received 13,000 threats against his life. The FIA president’s disclosure adds another dimension to a controversy that had already raised serious concerns about the behaviour of some Formula 1 supporters online.
FIA threatens to ban abusive fans and journalists from Formula 1
Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes the FIA must use its existing authority to confront online intimidation rather than relying exclusively on education and awareness initiatives. In his assessment, individuals responsible for serious harassment should face consequences that extend beyond their social media accounts.
“If the hate comes from someone who is a spectator, we ban them,” the FIA president declared. He indicated that similar measures could also be applied to members of the media who engage in threatening or abusive behaviour.
For journalists, the possibility of losing access to Formula 1 events already has a basis in the FIA’s accreditation procedures. The governing body’s 2026 media accreditation guidelines allow press passes to be withdrawn without prior notice, giving the federation authority over access granted to journalists and photographers.
However, Formula 1’s media accreditation system is not entirely controlled by the FIA. While the federation directly manages credentials for written press and photographers, television and radio accreditations fall under the responsibility of Formula One Management.
The statements from Mohammed Ben Sulayem therefore represent a warning about potential enforcement measures rather than confirmation that a new regulation has been introduced or that specific individuals have already been banned.
FIA considers artificial intelligence to identify anonymous online abusers
One of the most ambitious elements of the FIA president’s proposed response concerns individuals who use anonymous online accounts to send abusive or threatening messages. Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes artificial intelligence could play an important role in identifying those responsible and reducing the sense of impunity associated with online anonymity.
“AI will expose them,” the FIA president insisted, expressing confidence that technology could help uncover individuals responsible for harassment.
The FIA already has experience using artificial intelligence to combat online abuse. Since 2022, the federation has worked with Arwen.ai on technology designed to detect and moderate offensive content, while a partnership with Signify launched in 2025 has focused on analysing digital threats.
However, Mohammed Ben Sulayem did not specify which technological tools would make it possible to identify the individuals behind anonymous accounts. Nor did he explain how the proposed exclusions from Formula 1 events would be implemented in practice.
There is therefore an important distinction between the FIA’s existing ability to detect harmful online content and the more ambitious objective of identifying the real people responsible for anonymous threats. The practical operation and enforcement of the proposed measures remain unclear.
FIA seeks stronger protection for F1 drivers, families and race officials
The FIA’s stated objective is to prevent threats and intimidation from continuing to affect Formula 1 drivers, their families, race stewards and other members of the paddock. Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes the seriousness of the problem has become impossible to ignore, particularly when those targeted begin questioning their involvement in the sport.
The case of the female steward who reportedly received death and rape threats illustrates the consequences that online harassment can have on people working behind the scenes in Formula 1. Such incidents extend the issue beyond the drivers themselves and raise questions about the protection available to officials and other personnel.
For Pierre Gasly, the reported 13,000 death threats represent one of the most serious examples highlighted by the governing body’s president. The controversy involving Franco Colapinto has consequently become part of a wider discussion about the responsibility of supporters, drivers, teams and Formula 1 authorities to confront online intimidation.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s warning signals an intention to pursue stronger consequences for those responsible, potentially including bans from events and greater use of artificial intelligence. Whether those measures can be implemented effectively remains to be seen, but the FIA president has made clear that awareness campaigns alone are no longer considered sufficient to address the problem.
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