Angry Schumacher calls for 'legal action' amid death threats after the Chinese GP
Photo: Race Pictures
Olly Darcy is an editor at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 news. With a background in sports journalism, he delivers timely and reliable coverage of the sport.
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has slammed "sad and shameful" fans after death threats were sent to Esteban Ocon after the Chinese Grand Prix.
"Maybe they should also look into taking legal action against types like that."- Ralf Schumacher
The fallout occurred after the Haas driver collided with Franco Colapinto at Turn 2 of the Shanghai International Circuit, resulting in a ten-second time penalty for Ocon.
Despite the incident that hindered both their races, Colapinto managed to recover and earn his first points for Alpine with a P10 finish.
After the race, the Argentine's management, Bullet Sports Management, asked fans not to send any "hate or death threats" to Ocon, but the Frenchman still received plenty.
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Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon colliding at the Chinese Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures
"I think it's actually very sad and shameful," Schumacher said on Sky Sports Germany's Backstage Boxengasse podcast.
"I can't say anything at all about it. I did always associate Argentina with emotion. When I was in Argentina at the time, for Formula 1, I didn't experience that at all to that extreme.
"But around Colapinto, at least on the Internet, it doesn't matter who stands in the way or is critical of him in any way, because they are insulted or threatened in the most terrible ways."
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Online abuse rears its head again
It's not the first time F1 has dealt with issues of online abuse.
Just last year, Mick Doohan, father of former Alpine driver Jack Doohan, received many hateful comments after a fake picture was published to make it look like the Australian was poking fun at Colapinto.
It's an issue that keeps occurring in F1, and Schumacher believes something must be done to help decrease these problems.
Jack Doohan was replaced by Franco Colapinto at Alpine in 2025 - Photo: RacePictures.
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"I don't care that much; it all passes me by. But, I do have to say honestly that it's a shame, and also doesn't really belong in this sport. Maybe people should take a look at that. I also hope they will," continued the German.
"Maybe they should also look into taking legal action against types like that. This just can't be done. Violence, or incitement to violence via the Internet... I don't think there is room for that anywhere in the world."
"Netflix has brought a lot more breadth, at least in terms of fans. Now it goes from young to old, and in all kinds of directions. I think it becomes clear then that things do go wrong at times, with so many characters colliding."
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