F1 star hits out at 'cowards' after FIA change - 'these people wouldn't have the balls'

A pair of young F1 stars have praised the latest move from the FIA to combat online abuse, after a season riddled with incidents.

The motorsport governing body's United Against Online Abuse initiative was set up back in 2023 and has been evolving since, with a fresh update to the Online Community Guidelines being revealed last week in Brazil.

Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto have both praised the latest updates, with the former calling people who abuse others online 'cowards', and saying they 'wouldn't have the balls' to deliver their insults and threats in person.

Colapinto, whose fanbase has come under the microscope a few times in his career, called for everyone in the sport to be 'proactive' in the fight against abuse, having recently spoken out on the matter on social media.

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Colapinto: We have to keep improving

"It's great," the Argentine said of the new guidelines.

"I've been fighting really hard against it this year, and I don't want to talk about it much more. I talked enough.

"But generally, it's an area that we have to keep improving as a community, as a sport, in every area, in the world.

"We need to keep an eye on it and keep understanding how we can improve it and just not let it rest.

"We have to be very proactive in the things that we are doing. Me, with the team, with Alpine and everyone in the paddock, we've been fighting really hard against it.

"Everyone should do so. Let's hope we can keep improving the situation."

Bortoleto hails work being done against 'cowards' online

Bortoleto added: "The FIA has been doing a very good job on that. And again, I think Franco has been a little bit more openly vocal about it. I think it's important to be open to constructive criticism because that's okay. We are in a free world. We can listen to opinions, but they need to be constructive.

"They cannot be threatening. They cannot be judging in a negative way because I'm sure these people wouldn't have the balls to do that looking into my eyes or looking into his eyes or anyone's eyes. They do this because they are behind the screen.

"I'm happy if someone wants to come to my face and say something, then it's a different topic. But online abuse, it's for cowards, and I'm sure that the FIA has been taking care of this in a very good way.

"They have been proactive. We have been talking a lot also between the drivers, and I see a lot of progress on that. So hopefully we can keep improving."

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