Esteban Ocon wants severe consequences for fans who threatened him with death after the Chinese Grand Prix. In Shanghai, he had a collision with Franco Colapinto, after which he immediately took the blame. Despite this apology, the Haas driver received death threats and hate messages via social media. “It will only happen more often in the future,” Ocon said.
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During the race, Esteban Ocon received a ten-second time penalty for the incident with Franco Colapinto, a penalty he thought was fair. He was especially pleased that Colapinto managed to score one point. Despite an apology during the race and a personal apology to the Argentine, Ocon still received death threats and hate messages. “Online abuse must absolutely not be tolerated and must have serious consequences,” Ocon told reporters in the paddock in Japan.
‘Doesn’t belong in the sport’
The Haas driver says he didn’t pay much attention to it, but he did see what was happening online. “Of course a lot happened. For me, the most important thing was to speak directly with Franco, to tell him what I thought and that it was my fault. We had a good talk and everything was fine between us. I’m glad he had a good race after that and could score points,” Ocon said. The fact that he doesn’t pay much attention to it doesn’t mean he thinks the behavior is normal. “It doesn’t belong in the sport. You know how ‘keyboard warriors’ are. I think it will only happen more often in the future and there will probably be more consequences for these people.”
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‘The right way’
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu was pleased that Ocon immediately took responsibility for the incident. “Esteban immediately acknowledged it was his fault and that was very good. He said it directly in the car and then spoke with Franco. From our perspective, that was the right way. That’s how I want to see our drivers act. I’m actually very proud of how Esteban behaved,” Komatsu said.
The Frenchman said he received a letter of support from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Sulayem launched the initiative United Against Online Abuse after an FIA steward received death threats following the Grand Prix in Austin in 2022. The initiative aims to combat the growing online hate and abuse in various sports worldwide.
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