FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has come to the defense of Yuki Tsunoda, following online abuse directed at the Japanese driver. A minor incident between the Red Bull driver and Franco Colapinto on Friday in Imola sparked a wave of hate messages aimed at Tsunoda. The Japanese driver had previously called on the FIA to speak out, and the Emirati has now responded.
It was a minor incident on Friday in Imola. Franco Colapinto obstructed Yuki Tsunoda during free practice, prompting the Japanese driver to gesture angrily at the Argentine. Colapinto’s fans witnessed the incident and insulted Tsunoda, often racially, in Spanish on social media. The Red Bull driver later appealed to Formula 1, in case the hateful social media messages continued. “If it continues and it gets worse, then F1 has to say something at some point,” the Japanese driver told the media present.
The Statement from the FIA President
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has heard Tsunoda’s plea and has come to his aid with an official statement in which he defends the driver. “Motorsport is built on competition, passion, and dedication, and every race, the drivers embody these values. The passion and excitement we feel for our sport should unite us and should never be twisted into abuse or hatred,” writes Ben Sulayem.”I fully support Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto, and I thank them for speaking out against the growing problem of online abuse in motorsports,” the chairman continues. “No one should be threatened, hated, or discriminated against. There is no place for abuse or hate in our community. With the United Against Online Abuse campaign, we are taking decisive action. We are raising awareness, providing support, and driving change. We are committed to ensuring the well-being of everyone in our sport. Together, we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all.”
Support from Colapinto
In addition to Tsunoda, Colapinto has also previously spoken out about the online behavior of his fans. The Argentine came to the aid of the Japanese driver. “I don’t know what exactly the Argentine fans have done,” Colapinto told the media. “I know they have extreme passion, and they are always hard on others. They need to be respectful. There is so much hate on social media these days, and that’s not our thing.”
