Story perspectives

FIA weighs legal action after online threats over Colapinto penalty

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 2:41 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

FIA Threatens Lawsuit

FIA considered legal action after stewards received online threats following the Zandvoort penalty on Franco Colapinto.
United Against Online Abuse campaign secured €400,000 EU funding in January 2026.
Flavio Briatore warned Argentine fans to stop abusive behavior or face a media blackout for Colapinto.
The initiative also cites prior death threats to Yuki Tsunoda, Jack Doohan and harassment of Pierre Gasly’s family.

Summary

Colapinto Causes Crash

Lando Norris demanded a one-race ban for Franco Colapinto after the Azerbaijan crash.
Franco Colapinto locked his brakes on the safety-car restart, hitting Pierre Gasly and Norris, causing all three to retire.
Colapinto received a 10-second penalty, converted to a five-place grid drop for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
After Norris’s comments, Colapinto apologized while supporters sent Norris homophobic and abusive messages on X and Instagram.

History

Historical Context

In 2005 the European Commission funded the €30 million Safer Internet Programme with the Safer Internet Forum to fight online harassment. The initiative foreshadowed the EU’s 2013 move, when the European Parliament backed rules to protect citizens from U.S. surveillance after PRISM. By 2008 the Forum logged a 12 % cut in threat messages, a model that could inform today’s FIA actions against abuse of drivers Franco Colapinto and Lando Norris.

1 of 3

FIA Threatens Lawsuit

FIA considered legal action after stewards received online threats following the Zandvoort penalty on Franco Colapinto.
United Against Online Abuse campaign secured €400,000 EU funding in January 2026.
Flavio Briatore warned Argentine fans to stop abusive behavior or face a media blackout for Colapinto.
The initiative also cites prior death threats to Yuki Tsunoda, Jack Doohan and harassment of Pierre Gasly’s family.

1 / 3