Ben Sulayem says Gasly received 13,000 threats, calls for joint action

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem says Pierre Gasly received 13,000 threats and has urged the FIA, teams, drivers and media to tackle online abuse together. In an interview with The Drive, reported by RacingNews365, he said the problem could not be solved by one group acting alone.

RacingNews365 also noted that Gasly had faced online abuse when fans suspected he had deliberately impeded Franco Colapinto at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.

Ben Sulayem also recounted that a female race steward had received death and rape threats. He said she had responded that it was not worth it, and stressed that officials are volunteers.

The FIA has established its United Against Online Abuse initiative. Ben Sulayem said the federation wants to use artificial intelligence to identify online abusers. He also said the FIA could bar spectators from races, events and official platforms, and remove access for media representatives.