FIA respond as driver deletes social media after abuse for Monaco GP crash
Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne has deleted social media after the 19-year-old received some "really bad and quite upsetting" abuse after he crashed during the Monaco Grand Prix
The FIA have spoken out after a driver was forced to delete social media as a result of the abuse he received following a crash at the Monaco Grand Prix. Formula 2 driver Alex Dunne was sent some "really bad and quite upsetting" messages after he crashed in Monaco, causing an 11 car pile-up.
The 19-year-old, who is top of the driver standings, has since revealed that the abuse he received after the incident has prompted him to remove social media from his phone. "I got a lot of stuff after Monaco, normally I'm not someone who reads things and gets annoyed by them," Dunne said.
"But, I think an hour after the race, I deleted social media off my phone because I've never received such bad messages in my life. A lot of the stuff I got was really, really bad and quite upsetting to be honest."
And the FIA have now released a statement condemning the abuse, which reads: "On behalf of our Teams and Drivers, F1, F1, F3 and the FIA, through their United Against Online Abuse campaign, firmly condemn abuse and harassment of any form.
"We'll continue to collectively act upon and report abuse to social media platforms. Whether you are a fan or a part of the motorsport world, we are all driven by passion. At the heart of it all, there are humans. We urge everyone to remain respectful towards the athletes and their teams."
Dunne is not the only driver who has been targeted on social media this year, with former Alpine driver Jack Doohan forced to ask online trolls to "stop harassing my family" after a fabricated social media post from his father went viral.
"As you can see, the story circulating above is completely false," Doohan said in response to the fake post. "It was fabricated... to portray me and my family in a negative light.
"They edited the original content to make it appear as though my father posted it, which is entirely untrue. Please stop harassing my family. I didn't think it would get to this point."
FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem also condemned the abuse of Doohan and his family, stating: "Motorsport is built on competition, passion, and commitment, and ever race drivers take to the track representing these values.
"The passion and excitement that we feel for our sport should unite us and never be twisted into abuse or hatred. I stand in full support of Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto, and I thank them for speaking out against the growing issue of online abuse in motorsport.
"No-one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community. Through the united against online abuse campaign, we are taking decisive action - raising awareness, providing support, and driving change.
"We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone in our sport, and together we can build a safer, more respectful environment for all."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Lewis Hamilton risks wrath of his beloved Roscoe after he is seen petting Chief Mouser Larry the Cat at meeting with PM
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR LEWIS HAMILTON has risked the wrath of his beloved dog Roscoe... after he was seen petting Larry the Cat. Formula One superstar Hamilton is well known to be a socially conscious person, and leads his Mission 44 project to support young people in their education. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Lewis Hamilton risked the wrath of his dog, Roscoe, after he was seen petting Larry the Cat Credit: Lauren Hurley 5 Hamilton said his 'heart stops' when he gets a message about his beloved pet pooch Credit: Instagram @roscoelovescoco 5 12-year-old Roscoe is often seen alongside Hamilton Credit: Instagram @lewishamilton 5 Hamilton's visit to Downing Street came for a meeting on education reform Credit: Crown Copyright To that end, the 40-year-old was seen in attendance at Downing Street earlier this week for a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss education reform. During his visit, the seven-time F1 world champion took some time out from the meetings to introduce himself to Number 10's Chief Mouser, Larry. Larry has served in the role since 2011 after being adopted by then PM David Cameron. Born in 2007, the tabby is as old as Hamilton's F1 career when he started out with McLaren in the same year. READ MORE IN F1 MAX FUR-STAPPEN F1 stars' pets from driver with THIRTEEN cats to Insta dog and a REINDEER Taking to social media, the (un)official Larry the Cat account shared a photo of Hamilton petting the feline as he laid on his bed by a window. He captioned the post: "Thanks for the stroke. @LewisHamilton - love from the sleeping cat to the prancing horse x." It was a bit of a change of pace for Hamilton, who is usually seen alongside his French bulldog Roscoe. And one fan on social media was quick to point out: "If Roscoe ever sees this picture he will never forgive LH." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK However, Roscoe's most recent Instagram post showed him being given a tasty treat, showing Hamilton knows the way to the heart of man's best friend. Hamilton has not had the best interaction with cats in the past, revealing last year how he had black cats "thrown" at him. Lewis Hamilton's beloved dog Roscoe diagnosed with pneumonia as carer gives health update He also landed himself in trouble with animal rights activists in 2016 when he was seen playing with a tiger and jaguar during a visit to Mexico City's Black Jaguar-White Tiger Foundation. But most fans were loving the crossover of two British icons, with one saying: "Two legends in the same photo." A second said: "Oh what an honour! (For Lewis)." A third added: "Prime Minister Larry deigns to share some of his aura with Lewis. I respect that." Another joked: "Ahh I guess Lewis's demands to Sir Keir Starmer proved futile and Lewis went over Keir's head to the real power in Number 10." The Ferrari star admitted last month that he worries about his 12-year-old pooch following a recent battle he had with pneumonia. Hamilton said: "This is a time where every time I get a text message from the lady who looks after him, my heart stops for a second. "Because I'm thinking, 'What's next?' But he's fine now, fortunately. He is doing well. 'I never felt like my voice was heard' - Lewis Hamilton on education reform Hamilton's appearance at Downing Street was for more than just saying hello to Larry the Cat, but in fact was down to his goal of pushing for education reform in the UK. On his visit, Hamilton said: "I struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard, that's why I know first-hand that ensuring every student feels they belong in school is vital. "I'm grateful that, off the back of this meeting, the government has committed to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive. "I'm so proud of how far Mission 44 has come in such a short space of time and the opportunity we have to transform the lives of vulnerable students across the country." In a previous interview with the Sunday Times, Hamilton revealed: "When I was in my 20s, I had some really difficult phases. "I've struggled with mental health throughout my life. [I've had] depression. "From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. "I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. "The bullying. I had no one to talk to.' "He's 12 and a half years old, so he's an old boy and it's unusual for them to live that long." The duo have practically been inseparable for a decade, and even appear together on the front cover of a recent edition of Vogue. When quizzed on Roscoe's next appearance, Hamilton said: "I really want to take him to Silverstone, and particularly Monza, this year. "I plan to put him in a red cape and outfit. I was with him before Miami and he still wants to play. "He's still got that youthful spirit. But he does like to sleep a lot." Roscoe's trainer, Kirstin McMillan, nursed the vegan canine back to full fitness after he fell ill in April, as he was treated with medication and specialist acupuncture treatment. Meanwhile, Hamilton has been struggling to extract the best out of his Ferrari machinery, and - outside of a Sprint Race win - is yet to score a podium with the Scuderia after joining them over the winter. The Brit appeared close to tears during an interview with Sky Sports F1 after he finished P6 at the Spanish Grand Prix. He later showed his class by apologising for snapping at reporter Rachel Brooks. Hamilton will have a chance at redemption at the Canadian Grand Prix on June 15. 5
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
FIA releases statement after driving star shuts down his social media accounts following abuse after pile-up
The FIA has strongly condemned online abuse after rising Formula 2 star Alex Dunne was forced to delete his social media accounts in the wake of a chaotic 11-car crash at the Monaco Grand Prix. Dunne, who drives for McLaren's junior team and currently leads the F2 standings, received a torrent of vile messages following his role in the dramatic pile-up at Sainte Devote, which brought a red flag just moments into the race on May 25. The 19-year-old Irishman collided with ART Grand Prix driver Victor Martins at the first corner, triggering a chain reaction that saw more than half the field wiped out before completing a single lap. 'I got a lot of stuff after Monaco,' Dunne later revealed. 'Normally I'm not someone who reads things and gets annoyed by them. But I think an hour after the race, I deleted social media off my phone because I've never received such bad messages in my life. 'A lot of the stuff I got was really, really bad and quite upsetting to be honest.' The FIA has since responded with a statement under its United Against Online Abuse campaign, urging greater respect towards athletes and their teams. 'On behalf of our teams and drivers, F1, F2, F3 and the FIA firmly condemn abuse and harassment of any form,' the statement read. 'We'll continue to act upon and report abuse to social media platforms. Whether you are a fan or a part of the motorsport world, we are all driven by passion. At the heart of it all, there are humans.' Dunne is not the only driver to suffer from online hate this season. Former Alpine hopeful Jack Doohan recently issued a plea for fans to stop targeting his family after a viral hoax falsely attributed a controversial post to his father. 'They edited the original content to make it appear as though my father posted it, which is entirely untrue,' Doohan explained. 'Please stop harassing my family. I didn't think it would get to this point.' FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem added his voice to the growing concern, stating: 'No one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community. 'We are taking decisive action — raising awareness, providing support, and driving change. We are committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone in our sport.' The first-corner pile-up stood out as the defining moment of the Formula 2 weekend in Monaco. After a slow launch from pole, Dunne lost the inside line to Martins and appeared to understeer into the Frenchman's sidepod. Both cars smashed into the barriers, and the narrow layout meant those behind had nowhere to go. Eleven drivers retired as marshals cleared the wreckage. Dutch driver Richard Verschoor was among those forced out, with significant damage to his front wheel. Anger flared in the immediate aftermath, with a furious Martins asking his team over radio: 'Who does he think he is, Max Verstappen?' After a lengthy delay, the race resumed with a reduced field — and it was Jak Crawford who ultimately took the win, capitalising on a well-timed pit stop under the safety car before a late red flag brought proceedings to an early end. Leonardo Fornaroli, who had led for much of the race, had to settle for second. While Dunne remains in contention for the Formula 2 title, his experience in Monaco has cast a shadow over what has otherwise been a fine breakout season. Nevertheless, he is still top of this season's drivers' leaderboard after six rounds.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Schumacher's inner circle as F1 boss reveals who ‘regularly' sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON'T visit
When Schumacher's head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two SCHUEY'S CIRCLE Inside Schumacher's inner circle as F1 boss reveals who 'regularly' sees tragic star… & his shock at pal who WON'T visit AN F1 boss has revealed insider information on Michael Schumacher's inner circle - like who "regularly" visits him and his shock at one pal who won't. Schumacher hasn't been in the public eye since a devastating skiing accident 12 years ago and is cared for by medical staff and his wife Corinna at their home in Lake Geneva. Advertisement 7 Schumacher lifts the trophy after victory in the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco Credit: Getty 7 German formula one world champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari hugs his wife Corinna in 2004 Credit: Alamy 7 Ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star Credit: Re-Engineering Australia Foundation 7 The F1 legend's family have remained very protective of his privacy, with little known about his condition since the 2013 accident. Now ex-Red Bull chief Richard Hopkins has spoken out about the star - and revealed who regularly him. He told "Jean Todt, that's well known. Jean and Michael had an extraordinarily close relationship. "I believe Luca Badoer, who is a close family friend, visits him. Advertisement "If there is a third, I don't know who that would be." But Hopkins also spoke of a pal who won't visit Schumacher - Flavio Briatore. He added: "Flavio is, as we know, a flamboyant character. I would have thought he would have probably been the first person who would have wanted to see Michael in whatever way that was. But you have to respect that decision. "That's down to the individual. Not necessarily shared by all. I know there are close friends that go and see Schumacher and that's their own choice and for their own reasons. Advertisement "But Flavio has obviously got his and it's very deep and personal how we remember people, and how we want to remember people. "I think we all have to respect that one." Michael Schumacher's Monaco Grand Prix-Winning Ferrari F2001 In 2020 Briatore's former wife Elisabetta Gregoraci claimed that: 'Michael doesn't speak, he communicates with his eyes.' Addressing this rumour, Hopkins said: "I'm not in that circle to know the absolute facts about Schumacher. Not many people are. Does he communicate through his eyes? Quite possibly. Advertisement "There is rumour he does watch Grand Prixs. But this is just speculation and perhaps unfair for anyone to make assumptions and guesses. "Any remark I make will be unqualified as well in that sense, so it's difficult to be drawn on it." In April, Schumacher signed a charity helmet belonging to fellow F1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart with help from Corinna. The helmet will be auctioned to raise money for Stewart's charity Race Against Dementia. Advertisement But Hopkins has described the signing as potentially being a "one-off". He said: "I suspect that [Jackie Stewart helmet signature] gesture was a one-off. There was a lot of media around that and maybe for the family too much media. 7 Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore Credit: Getty - Contributor 7 Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore looks on in the paddock during qualifying Credit: Getty Advertisement 7 Race winner Michael Schumacher celebrates on the podium in 1994 Credit: Alamy "They try to keep everything quiet and private, so I'd hazard a guess that it was a one-off. "It was a great gesture from the family to organise that." Yilmaz Tozturkan, 53, and his son Daniel Lins, 30, had threatened to publish videos and pictures of Schumacher unless they were given £12million. Advertisement Security guard Markus Fritsche had copied the private material while working for the Schumachers and sold it to the two men. In February the trio were found guilty of their part in the blackmail plot. Fritsche was given a two-year suspended sentence, while Tozturkan was jailed for three years and Lins was given a six-month suspended prison sentence by a German court. Schumacher's wife Corinna wanted a harsher sentence for Fritsche. Advertisement She said: 'What still shocks me most is the massive breach of trust. 'He should receive a punishment for this that deters others from potentially doing the same.' When Schumacher's head hit a boulder in the skiing accident 12 years ago, it split his helmet in two. The brain injury was so serious that he spent 250 days in a coma. Advertisement The best medical treatment that money could buy brought the sporting great, who is worth £468million, back to consciousness. There had been rumours that further treatment in Paris had allowed Schumacher to take some small steps, but that was later dismissed.
