FIA release statement after Franco Colapinto sponsor 'killing integrity' claims

The FIA has released a statement in response to Franco Colapinto's major sponsor's claims that the stewards are "killing the integrity of F1" after the Dutch Grand Prix.

Alpine driver Colapinto was handed a drive-through penalty and two penalty points at Zandvoort after being deemed to have overtaken Yuki Tsunoda under yellow flags on the first lap following Max Verstappen's crash and Gabriel Bortoleto's spin at the final corner.

The Argentine was later handed another penalty point for failing to slow under yellow flags, and felt himself that the decisions had been "extremely harsh" and that it would have been more "dangerous" for him to "slam on the brakes" to avoid passing Tsunoda rather than passing. 

Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad echoed those thoughts after incurring a similar penalty on the opening lap, and felt that the stewards were "trying to set a precedent" rather than judging the merits of the incident on their own. 

Post-race, Sean Summers, the chief marketing officer of Mercado Libre, Colapinto's key sponsor, took to X and claimed that: "FIA stewards are killing the integrity of F1. 

"This season they are proving to be horrible and impacting race results. Incompetence? Dishonesty? Both?  Something is seriously broken in that organisation’s culture."

In response to this, the FIA has issued a rebuttal to Summers' claims. 

"Following the Dutch Grand Prix, FIA stewards were targeted with online abuse after applying sporting penalties in line with the FIA regulations," it began.

"The United Against Online Abuse coalition condemns all forms of abuse and harassment. Disagreement with decisions is part of sport, but it must never justify threats or personal attacks.

"In 2023, the FIA launched the United Against Online Abuse coalition after a steward faced targeted abuse following the United States Grand Prix.

"We urge everyone engaging with our sport to do so with respect and responsibility, online and offline."

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