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Colapinto Sponsor Blasts FIA Over Dutch Grand Prix Penalties
A leading backer of Franco Colapinto has accused the FIA stewards of damaging Formula 1’s integrity following penalties at Zandvoort.
By Nadia van Leeuwen - 2026-08-25T10:42:57.000Z - 2 min read
The primary backer of Franco Colapinto has launched a scathing public attack on the governing body following a pair of penalties handed down during a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix. Sean Summers, chief marketing officer of sponsor Mercado Libre, accused the officials of destroying the sport's credibility through decisions that heavily influenced the final classification.
The controversy erupted after the race got underway in treacherous wet conditions. Colapinto made a strong start at the wheel of his Alpine machine and fought his way into points-paying positions before a major accident involving Max Verstappen brought out immediate yellow flags and triggered a suspension. During this opening flurry, the Argentine driver passed Yuki Tsunoda under the caution period.
Stewards slapped Colapinto with a severe drive-through penalty for the infraction. Arvid Lindblad received an identical sanction for a similar maneuver past Pierre Gasly. Colapinto later picked up a further ten-second penalty and three license points, bringing his total over a 12-month period to four.
Speaking after the race, Colapinto argued that the punishment ruined his afternoon and lacked common sense given the hazards on track. The driver explained that the yellow flag appeared very late while he was already completing the pass on a damp, slippery banking. He maintained that slamming on the brakes in those low-grip conditions would have created an even greater hazard for trailing traffic.
The driver expressed frustration that the enforcement lacked flexibility. He felt that the officials failed to account for the unique safety risks of reacting instantly to a sudden caution while cars were navigating debris and spinning on a drying line. Despite his strong start, the early drive-through dropped him down the order and he ultimately crossed the finish line in fourteenth position.
The severity of the official response prompted an explosive reaction from the driver's commercial camp. Taking to social media, Summers questioned the competence and integrity of the panel, suggesting that the rulings were unfairly dictating race outcomes and pointing to deeper cultural issues within the governing body.
Alpine adopted a notably more diplomatic stance in response to the public outburst. An official team spokesperson acknowledged that while the strict application of the sporting code felt exceptionally harsh in the heat of competition, the penalties aligned with the letter of the law and were applied evenly across the field. The team added that they trusted the enforcement process and would use the event to review and learn.