--- title: "13,000 Death Threats in an F1 Driver’s Inbox: FIA President Gets Real About the Dark Side of Fame" date: "2026-10-28" modified: "2026-10-28" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez.md" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/13000-death-threats-in-an-f1-drivers-inbox-fia-president-gets-real-about-the-dark-side-of-fame" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # 13,000 Death Threats in an F1 Driver’s Inbox: FIA President Gets Real About the Dark Side of Fame ![SPA, BELGIUM - JULY 17: Fans of Franco Colapinto of Argentina and Alpine F1 and George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team at the stage prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 17, 2026 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)]() *\Mark Sutton via Getty\* When [Formula 1]() driver Pierre Gasly seemed to hold up his Alpine teammate Franco Colapinto in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix in early September, Colapinto's fan base was not happy. Gasly's move triggered an unthinkable barrage of death threats not just against the French racer, but also his girlfriend and immediate family. In a recent interview with [FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem](), *The Drive* learned the number of death threats was in the thousands. "Pierre Gasly had 13,000 threats on his life—13,000! If we fight this alone, we will fail; we can't do it alone," Ben Sulayem told *The Drive* during the Austin race weekend. "You know, for someone who is hiding in his father's garage somewhere \[and engages in online abuse\] because a driver was trying to come into a corner? I mean, we had a woman steward who was threatened to be killed and raped, so she said, 'it's not worth it.' These are volunteers." ![AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: \<\> during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 24, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)]() **Bryn Lennon via Getty** This level of online abuse is prevalent in global sports, and federations, governments, and, of course, the people on the receiving end of this hate are scrambling to find meaningful solutions. The perpetrators are many; they're all over the world and can extremely easily hide behind screen names, fake social media accounts, and forums that foster this hate while also keeping their real identities hidden. "We risk losing the sport to online abuse, and that's where we need you \[fans and media\]," added Ben Sulayem. "We did United Against Online Abuse, and we have to use a lot of AI technology to expose these online abusers. There's no place for them because if we don't do something, our sport will be beyond repair. "The mission is awareness and education—and not only from the FIA—but we also have to use our power. If the hate comes from someone who is a spectator, we ban them \[from races, events, official platforms, etc.\]. If they are part of the media, we ban them because we have the authority. And if they are hiding \[on the internet\], AI will expose them. If you expose one, I guarantee you \[they will all\] be afraid." ![]() *Interviewing FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem in Austin, Texas. *FIA** Argentinian fans have been singled out as the worst offenders, and that's certainly been the case in altercations involving Colapinto, who is the country's most recent pride and joy. Before him, it was IndyCar racer Agustin Canapino, whose career suffered greatly after Argentinian fans unleashed a tsunami of online hate on anyone who clashed with him. That said, this level of online abuse isn't limited to one country, one fanbase, or one demographic. It's a global epidemic that surfaced in F1 decades ago but was never taken seriously. If you've watched the sport long enough, you'll remember some of the abuse and racism Lewis Hamilton endured early in his career, with one of the most disgusting examples being Spanish fans wearing monkey masks to races and displaying billboards with racist remarks. Today, the sport and the FIA take this more seriously, and Ben Sulayem emphasizes that meaningful results come only when everyone fights together. In this most recent case, Alpine F1 Team boss [Flavio Briatore made a clear, decisive decision]() against Colapinto's abusive fan base: Continue the online hate against Gasly or any other driver, and Colapinto will be placed on a media blackout. That means no interviews, no social media coverage, and no access or TV coverage whatsoever. It worked. When asked if he wished more team principals issued ultimatums like that, the FIA president alluded to yes, but also asked other parties to be just as decisive. ![Alpine's Pierre Gasly ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Picture date: Sunday October 25, 2026. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)]() ![MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Fans show their support for Franco Colapinto of Argentina and Alpine F1 in the fan zone prior to final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 05, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)]() "Not only the principal," Ben Sulayem emphasized. "The F1 drivers have fans, and the drivers can say to the fans: 'Stop, I don't want you to be my fan if you are not behaving, if you are using death threats.' Drivers also have responsibility because they are ambassadors; they are role models, and protecting another driver also protects them. We, the FIA, have responsibility; the teams have responsibility; you \[the media\] have responsibility." He's not wrong. For an audience that craves mainstream and behind-the-scenes coverage of its favorite stars, a media blackout could certainly prove a point. However, this would also put teams and drivers in a bind, since their sponsors spend tens of millions of dollars on that exposure. So, what gives? "We have to work together," Ben Sulayem concluded. *Email the author at jerry@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]() ## More - [F1 Steward’s McLaren Ties in Spotlight After Verstappen Penalty]() - [Lando Norris Rolls Up to US Grand Prix in a Custom 1973 Plymouth Barracuda]() - [American Logan Sargeant Officially Secures Williams F1 Seat for 2023]() - [Daniel Ricciardo Says He Won’t Race in F1 Next Year]() - [Verstappen Seals Record F1 Season With Mighty 19th Win in Abu Dhabi]() - [GM Plans to Supply Formula 1 Power Units Starting in 2028]() - [F1 Asked GM to Partner With Someone Other Than Andretti: Report]() - [Ford CEO Jim Farley Hits Back at Cadillac F1 CEO’s Criticism: ‘It’s Laughable’]()