Esteban Ocon reveals FIA president letter after horrific death threats

Esteban Ocon has revealed that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem sent him a letter in response to receiving death threats following the Chinese Grand Prix. 

Ocon collided with Alpine's Franco Colapinto in Shanghai when attempting to pass the Argentine, who had just emerged from the pits. The Frenchman misjudged his move and spun both drivers around.

The Haas driver, who received a 10-second time penalty, immediately took responsibility for the incident. Colapinto, meanwhile, recovered to finish 10th, recording his first points finish since taking the chequered flag in the same position for Williams at the 2024 United States GP. 

After the race, Colapinto's management company released a statement imploring fans of Colapinto not to abuse Ocon, who started to receive death threats and other abuse on his social media, particularly Instagram. 

Reacting to the fallout, Ocon explained that FIA chief Ben Sulayem had been in contact, with the president keen to stamp out online abuse in sport.

"To be honest, I didn't pay too much attention to it, but I've seen what was going on online," Ocon told the media, including RacingNews365.

"The important thing for me was really to speak to Franco directly, to really tell him what I thought and that I was sorry about the incident, because it was, it was my fault on that one. 

"We had a good chat. Everything was okay between us, and I'm glad that he had a good race, and they still managed to score points, which was good.

"But for sure, any kind of abuse online that we saw, it should not be tolerated at all, and should have big consequences.

"It should not have any place in sport or in our sport, but that's the key keyboard warriors, that's how they are. So, yeah, 

"I think in the future, it's going to become more of a thing, and there probably will be more consequences for these people. 

"The FIA President sent me a letter afterwards, so yeah, it's been a talking point."