Horner "shocked" by racist, sexist and homophobic fan abuse

Ewan Gale
Sunday 10 July 2022 18:37 - Updated: 20:11

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed his shock at reports of racist, misogynistic and homophobic abuse directed at fans across the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.

The abuse was flagged on Friday night after qualifying and again after the sprint at the Red Bull Ring, with 303,000 fans visiting the event across the weekend, including a large contingent of Max Verstappen's adoring orange army.

F1 released a statement ahead of the grand prix, won by Charles Leclerc for Ferrari, condemning the "unacceptable" behaviour on display from sections of the crowd.

Lewis Hamilton added his voice to the disappointment, saying he was "disgusted" to hear the reports and suggested more action must be taken to increase inclusivity for all when attending races.

In a statement released after the event, where Verstappen finished second despite starting on pole, Horner said: “We are shocked to hear that there have been some incidents of abusive behaviour in the grandstands and the fan parks.

"This is completely unacceptable and we hope that security and the authorities deal with this swiftly as there is no place for it in racing or society as a whole.

"We value inclusion and want a safe space for fans to enjoy our sport.”