Racing into a Rough Turn: The Austrian GP Fallout
When the Tracks Turn Into Trenches
On Sunday, July 10, fans gasped and drivers shouted, not from the speed of the cars but from the sting of the comments echoing from the stands. • Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the whole crew have raised a flag against sexist, racist, and homophobic slurs flung across the Austrian Grand Prix.”
- Lewis Hamilton slammed the incident on Instagram, calling it “disgusting” and “disappointing.”
- Formula One’s spokesperson stepped in, saying: “This type of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
- A “full‑throttle” response to the offenders has been promised, as F1 promises to “tackle this head‑on” with event officials and security.
How the Fans Looked/Feel…
Picture this: Dutch fans, orange‑tinted flares in hand, cheering Ver…Stop—spare our eyes, we’re all about the roar of the engines! But behind the excitement, reports surfaced of drunken gents spitting hat‑sized disbelief at women, and the usual “homophobic chants + racial abuse” that make no sense in a sport where fastest laps should triumph over bestial behavior.
Verstappen’s After‑race Recap
“These things shouldn’t happen,” Verstappen said, after his sprint win and a second‑place finish in the big race (Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had it all the way).
He added, “I read a few shocking things… That’s clearly not ok. I shouldn’t even need to say this.” Right? Even a podium‑standing driver can’t hold his breath over this circus of abuse.
Red Bull’s Standpoint
Christian Horner, the Red Bull boss, slammed “no place for this in racing or society,” underlining the firm belief that “inclusion means a safe space for everyone.”
Hamilton’s Hype‑Up
- The only Black driver in F1 has given the worst-case scenario a narrative: “Fans shouldn’t dread attending the GP because of the people they cheer for.”
- He challenged the audience: “If you witness hateful remarks, report it. We can’t let this slide.”
During post‑race media rounds, Hamilton hit the “realization” mark: “It’s crazy that fans are still being wronged in 2022. It’s just a textbook case of ignorance.”
Ferrari’s Conciliatory Chords
The Italian team tweeted: “No room for verbal or physical abuse for any group here. We stand with F1 to call this behavior unacceptable.”
In short: the racing world isn’t supposed to be a playground for hate. It’s a podium for sport. Let’s keep the damage off the track, and let the car telemetry remain the only thing going ‘full 10k.’
Takeaway: Protecting the Passion
F1 and peak teams pledge to scrub any weirdness at the stands so fans, whatever their chosen colours, can get back to the real thrill: the waltz of engines slicing down the straights.
