George Russell News: Boozy F1 festivals getting "out of hand" with fan abuse

Austrian Grand Prix

5 reacties

Boozy F1 festivals getting out of hand with fan abuse - Russell

Fans reported sexist, racist and homophobic abuse across the weekend

Sam Hall

Tuesday 12 July 2022 09:10

George Russell has slated the vile sexist, racist and homophobic abuse experienced by a number of fans at the Austrian Grand Prix after things got "out of hand".

F1 released a statement condemning the behaviour of a group of fans ahead of Sunday's race at the Red Bull Ring after receiving reports of abuse.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/86942/horner-shocked-by-racist-sexist-and-homophobic-fan-abuse/, driver Max Verstappen and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton are among those to have denounced the "unacceptable" behaviour with the Silver Arrows also welcoming a victim of abuse at the circuit into their garage.

Article continues under video

F1's popularity has risen massively recently with the Red Bull Ring welcoming 303,000 fans across the weekend generating a festival atmosphere.

Asked if F1 has a culture problem, Russell said: "It feels like every race we go to now is like this big festival which I think is great to a degree but I'm sure there is a lot of booze going around and clearly things do get out of hand.

"Obviously, more needs to be done to stop this sort of behaviour. It's horrifying to hear and read about this and if anyone is having any of these comments, people need to speak up and it needs to be spoken about.

"I think Formula 1 as a sport is generally really on the up and when things are expanded so substantially, there is inevitably going to be issues along the way and things need to be done."

Additional reporting by Ian Parkes

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F2 and F3 plan to race despite fears of F1 grands prix cancellation in Middle East crisis

9 minutes ago

Even Jeremy Clarkson can't get his head around the new F1 rules in Sky Sports dig

1 hour ago

F1 News Today: Mercedes could 'block' Horner return, Verstappen rages

2 hours ago

Red Bull must ‘meet in the middle’ to avoid repeat of painful driver axing

2 hours ago

What is super-clipping?

3 hours ago

Max Verstappen admits he is 'getting the pressure now' after Charles Leclerc got married