FIA handed driver unprecedented 15-year ban from racing for disgraceful incident

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, once handed a 15-year ban to a driver after a disgraceful incident.

Back in 2020, footage from the world karting finals went viral on social media.

The video showed young Italian driver Luca Corberi standing on the side of the track holding the bumper of his kart after an incident sent him into the barriers.

He then decided to throw the bumper at rival Paolo Ippolito, who was still in the race.

On the back of the incident, Corberi was then seen involved in an angry altercation during the aftermath of the race.

The Italian had to be held back by multiple people as chaos engulfed in the pits.

Corberi was highly rated, having raced the likes of George Russell and Lance Stroll before the pair made it all the way to the pinnacle of motorsports.

However, after the incident, he was handed a huge 15-year ban by the FIA.

A statement read: "The tribunal decided that a 15-year sanction would be adequate and proportional, since such a sanction clearly reflects the gravity of the facts and the violence involved.

"This sanction is one of the most serious sanctions that the tribunal can impose. No other sanction would be able to achieve the envisaged goals of general and specific deterrence and rehabilitation to the same degree – as such, this measure is necessary."

Corberi appealed the suspension but the decision was upheld, meaning he was banned from taking part in 'any motorsport events organised, directly or indirectly, by the FIA or the ANSs, or from exercising any role or function within the FIA'.

At the time, F1 star Russell was asked about the incident.

He said: "Absolutely unacceptable. I think first and foremost he put himself in a huge amount of danger. Standing at that point of a track and ultimately you put somebody else in a huge amount of danger as well with the actions he took when he was on track, and obviously following up what happened in the in the pits was unacceptable in any walk of life, ultimately.

"Motorsport is incredibly passionate but there’s no excuse for anybody to react in that manner, so I trust the FIA are going to impose the correct penalties."