Former F1 driver Mika Salo, who acted as the FIA drivers' steward in last weekend's US Grand Prix, revealed that he has received death threats following the penalty handed to Max Verstappen.
It's a sick world out there sometimes and Formula 1 isn't immune to the madness and stupidity of the odd disturbed and half-backed so-called 'fan'.
As controversial as the call to penalise Verstappen after last Sunday's race was, it obviously didn't warrant a threat of any kind from anyone.
The Red Bull Racing driver was hit with five-second penalty for gaining an advantage while exceeding track limits as he overtook Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen for third on the final lap of the US GP.
The FIA Stewards' in Austin were Radovan Novak, Mika Salo and Garry Connelly.
Immediately after the race, Salo's Wikipedia page was trolled and mischievously edited with bogus comments.
"As a steward of the FIA he helped Ferrari by giving Max Verstappen unreasonable penalties, which hurt the feelings of Dutch fans and made them cry to like children."
Unsurprisingly the perpetrators also inserted wacky conspiracy theories, like "Lately he’s being paid by Ferrari as an independent steward to make sure Ferrari will be world champion again."
The page was eventually cleaned up, but Salo obviously wasn't happy about the threats to his life.
"I have received death threats, mainly from Holland," he told Finland's SuomiF1.
"The change in the Wikipedia article was a fun joke, but threats to me and other members of the jury should not be tolerated."
Salo also stood by the Stewards' decision, insisting it had made the right call according to the rules.
"It was a punishment, but the rules are rules," he said.
"They clearly state that if the driver gets the benefit of rectification, he will be followed by a penalty.
"Max was ahead of Kimi Raikkonen behind, but after the curve, thanks to the correction ahead of Ferrari. The situation is clear."
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