FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has come out and publicly condemned online abuse suffered by Yuki Tsunoda.
During Friday’s practice sessions, there was a misunderstanding between Franco Colapinto and Tsunoda on track, with the Williams driver impeding the Red Bull as he was on a push lap.
This led to Tsunoda gesticulating at his rival in frustration, not something uncommon during race weekends.
It was a minor incident, and it was not escalated by either of the drivers or teams, however, it sparked a large amount of backlash online, with Colapinto’s supporters launching offensive and racial abuse at the Japanese driver.
Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto had an incident in Friday practice
Reuters
As soon as the young Argentine learnt of the abuse, he immediately condemned it, calling for civility and respect from fans:
“I know they are extremely passionate, and they are always very harsh on people,” said the F1 returnee.
JUST IN: Wayne Rooney, 39, reveals three players Manchester United need to sign this summer
“They have to give respect, and that's what we all want. There is a lot of hate on social media nowadays.
"Of course, we always try and want - for all the drivers - to keep it respectful and keep it calm there.”
That didn’t put an end to the abuse as it carried on, less so after the Williams driver condemned the actions, but it didn’t stop all fans.
It led the FIA president to take to social media to condemn the abuse, writing: "Motorsport is built on competition, passion, and commitment, and every race drivers take to the track representing these values
READ MORE: Who will replace Gary Lineker for World Cup 2026? List of potential candidates emerges
Franco Colapinto returned to F1 action last weekend
Reuters
"The passion and excitement that we feel for our sport should unite us and never be twisted into abuse or hatred.
“I stand in full support of Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto, and I thank them for speaking out against the growing issue of online abuse in motorsport.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
“No one should be subjected to 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 driving change.
“We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone in our sport, and together we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all.”
The FIA President posted on social media condemning the abuse
Reuters
Tsunoda has a reputation for being very vocal on the radio, always expressing his emotions under the helmet, but outside of the car, he has already called for Formula 1 and the FIA to address the rising amount of toxic fan behaviour of digital platforms.
The teams will be back on track this week as they take on the iconic streets of Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix.
