In a united front against the rising tide of online hate, the International Federation along with Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3 have taken a stand to denounce the recent incidents of abuse targeting drivers. Despite the exhilarating races in Monaco and Spain, the dark cloud of online hatred loomed large over the weekends, with several drivers becoming victims of vicious online messages. The likes of Yuki Tsunoda and Jack Doohan in Formula 1, as well as drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3, faced appalling abuse and intimidation on social media platforms.
One driver who bore the brunt of this cyber onslaught was Alex Dunne, who was bombarded with insults following an incident with Richard Verschoor at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix. The severity of the hateful messages reduced the McLaren Young Driver Programme’s Irishman to tears during the FIA press conference as he bravely addressed the threats, ultimately leading him to delete his social media profiles.
In response to these despicable acts, the FIA has released a joint statement with Formula 1, Formula 2, and Formula 3, declaring, “On behalf of all teams and drivers in F1, F2, F3, and the FIA, through the United Against Online Abuse campaign, we condemn all forms of abuse and harassment. We will continue to take collective action against such abuses and report them to social media platforms. Whether you are a fan or part of the motorsport world, we are all driven by passion. At the core of it all are people. We urge everyone to maintain a respectful attitude towards athletes and their teams.”
