Gasly Receives 13,000 Death Threats as Position Dispute Grows

In Formula 1's Madrid Grand Prix on September 13, Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto were involved in a dispute over position. Gasly, who was ahead during the race, did not give up his place despite his faster teammate asking for it, and kept to his own strategy. Fans of the Argentine driver heavily criticized the incident online.

The reaction quickly became a threat. Gasly said that being in the public eye is normal for an athlete, but that the recent attacks have crossed every line. He said he found it unacceptable that his family, his girlfriend and people around him were being targeted. He also revealed that he has received about 13,000 death threats since the Madrid race.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that strict measures would be taken against hate speech. Ben Sulayem said that anonymous accounts would be identified with the help of artificial intelligence, and that anyone making threats would be removed, whether they are a fan or a member of the media. Ben Sulayem also said that a female race steward had recently left her position because of threats.

Alpine official Flavio Briatore announced that, due to these developments, they would no longer give interviews to Argentine media members. Colapinto asked his supporters to stop threatening his teammate.