FIA President Warns of "Plague" of Abuse After Gasly Faces 13,000 Death Threats

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has sounded the alarm on a growing "sickness" within Formula 1, revealing that Pierre Gasly received roughly 13,000 death threats following a team order controversy at the Spanish Grand Prix. The surge of toxicity highlights a dangerous shift in fan culture where sporting disagreements escalate into targeted violence against drivers and their families.

Why it matters:

The scale of these attacks signals a crisis that transcends typical sporting rivalry. When athletes' partners and families are targeted, it creates a hostile environment that threatens the psychological well-being of the grid. The FIA’s struggle to curb this behavior suggests that current moderation efforts are insufficient against organized, high-volume online harassment.

The Details:

• The Catalyst: The abuse peaked after the Spanish GP, where Alpine ordered Franco Colapinto to yield his position to teammate Pierre Gasly. Colapinto’s visible frustration on the radio acted as a trigger for his fanbase.
• The Fallout: Gasly reported that the threats extended beyond his professional life, targeting his partner and family members, describing the extent of the attacks as completely inappropriate.
• Added Friction: The tension was exacerbated by TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, who made a joke about Colapinto's nationality during the US GP. While Ben Sulayem defended Clarkson's intent, Alpine officially distanced itself from the comments to uphold its values of respect.
• Wider Impact: The abuse isn't limited to drivers; FIA stewards—many of whom are volunteers—have also reported receiving death threats.

The Big Picture:

F1 is currently battling a systemic issue where "keyword warriors" use social media to weaponize fan loyalty. Ben Sulayem describes this as a "plague" that could destroy the sport if left unchecked. The FIA is now advocating for a multi-pronged approach, combining AI-driven detection with cooperation from governments and big tech companies to identify and block malicious actors.

What's next:

The sport is moving toward a zero-tolerance policy. Alpine’s Flavio Briatore has already issued an ultimatum: if the abuse from Colapinto's fans persists, the driver's media access and interviews with Argentine television will be severely restricted. The FIA is urging drivers to use their platforms as ambassadors to explicitly condemn this behavior, warning that protecting the community is the only way to ensure the sport's long-term survival.