Formula One says it is investigating reports of “unacceptable” harassment reported by some fans attending the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
Posts on social media complained of sexist, racist and homophobic slurs at the sold out event at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring.
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 10, 2022
Read this thread:
Who is in charge of security at the Red Bull Ring?
Hey @F1 @fia @Ben_Sulayem @fiawim @Silbellot @redbull @redbullracing, below are a bunch of tweets about people, particularly women, being harassed at the #AustrianGP this weekend. What can they do to protect themselves? https://t.co/GJiZDT5dgV
— Melanie 🏁 (@MotoMel89) July 9, 2022
In a statement on Sunday F1 said it had been made aware of “reports that some fans have been subject to completely unacceptable comments by others at the event”.
“We have raised this with the promoter and security and will be speaking to those who have reported these incidents and are taking this very seriously,” the statement continued.
“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated and all fans should be treated with respect.”
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An estimated 50,000 Dutch fans, many dressed up in ‘Orange Army’ t-shirts, have descended on Spielberg to support world champion Max Verstappen.
The behaviour of some of the Red Bull driver’s supporters was already called into question on Friday when cheers rang out after Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed in qualifying.
Both Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff criticised that behaviour as well as the booing Verstappen had received at Silverstone the previous weekend.
“It’s not very sportsmanlike,” Wolff had said on Saturday.
“Fans cheering when a driver crashes out, you should question the attitude and understanding of sport.”
“Booing is not good either,” said Wolff.
“As teams we fight, but booing is a personal attack on a driver. Fans should put themselves in the same position.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
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