Lexi Webster
The Austrian Grand Prix in 2022 was marred by reports of abusive behaviour from fans, with some subjected to racist, homophobic, and sexist abuse. F1 launched an investigation into the 'unacceptable' abuse, with drivers Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Sebastian Vettel all condemning the behaviour. Hamilton, who heard about the incidents via social media, said he was 'disgusted and disappointed', while Verstappen urged better security and less drinking. The incidents come after similar reports of abusive behaviour at the Silverstone Grand Prix, where Verstappen was booed by fans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | July 2022 |
| Location | Red Bull Ring racetrack, Spielberg, Austria |
| Number of Attendees | 300,000+ |
| Nature of Incident | Racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour |
| Victims | Lewis Hamilton fans, female fans, and other fans |
| Perpetrators | Drunk fans, possibly Dutch fans of Max Verstappen |
| Response | Condemnation by F1 drivers and officials, investigation launched, increased security |
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What You'll Learn
Racist, homophobic and sexist abuse
The Austrian Grand Prix has stood out on the Formula One calendar for its atmosphere since its return in 2014. However, the 2022 edition, held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, was marred by reports of abusive fan behaviour. F1 released a statement saying they were made aware of reports that some fans were subjected to unacceptable comments and slurs, including racist, homophobic, and sexist abuse. The statement also mentioned that they take these matters very seriously, have raised them with the promoter and event security, and will speak to those who reported the incidents.
Several fans detailed their experiences of abuse at the Austrian Grand Prix, with some experiences dating back to the previous year's race. Reports included verbal and physical harassment of female fans, homophobic slurs, and racist abuse. The behaviour of some fans was widely condemned by F1 drivers, team bosses, and the F1 organisation itself. Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, expressed his disgust and disappointment on social media, urging fans to report any incidents to circuit security and F1. Max Verstappen, the defending world champion, also commented on the unacceptable behaviour, urging better security and less drinking.
The issue of abusive fan behaviour has been a recurring problem in Formula One, with the sport trying to foster an inclusive and safe environment for all attendees. F1 has stated that abusive behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, and they are taking steps to address the issue. This includes discussions with race promoters and event security to improve safety measures and prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
While the majority of fans attend races to passionately support their favourite drivers and teams, a small minority engage in unacceptable behaviour that reflects negatively on the sport. F1 and the wider motorsport community have recognised the seriousness of this issue and are working towards creating a safe and respectful environment for all fans, regardless of their gender, sexuality, or skin colour.
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Lewis Hamilton's Instagram statement
Lewis Hamilton took to Instagram to address the unacceptable behaviour of fans at the Austrian Grand Prix. In his statement, Hamilton expressed his disgust and disappointment at reports of racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour towards other fans at the circuit. He emphasised that attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any Grand Prix should never be a source of anxiety and pain for fans, and that steps must be taken to ensure that races are safe spaces for everyone. Hamilton urged people to report any incidents of abusive behaviour to circuit security and to F1.
Hamilton's statement was prompted by reports of abuse circulating on social media from fans attending the race in Spielberg. Some fans reported being victims of a range of abuse, including racist and homophobic remarks. This behaviour was also condemned by F1, who issued a statement saying that they had been made aware of reports of unacceptable comments made by some fans at the event. F1 raised these concerns with the promoter and security and planned to speak to those who had reported the incidents.
The behaviour of fans at the Austrian Grand Prix was met with widespread criticism from various sources. Racing Pride, a group advocating for LGBT inclusion in motorsport, called on F1 to investigate the reports of harassment and discrimination, including those directed at LGBTQ+ individuals, immediately. Additionally, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 boss, described the booing of drivers as "not right," urging fans to be emotional and passionate without making it personal.
The incident at the Austrian Grand Prix also sparked discussions about the changing nature of F1 and the increasing presence of "new fans with no general racing support background." Some commentators likened the atmosphere to that of a football ground, with tribal behaviours and a party-like setting that may contribute to the issues observed. This has led to calls for improved security and a re-evaluation of the organisational aspects of the races to ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees.
Hamilton's Instagram statement struck a chord with his fans, who eagerly anticipated his race debut in red. Hundreds of comments expressed excitement and support for the seven-time champion, reflecting the impact of his words beyond the specific incident in Austria.
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Max Verstappen's condemnation
The behaviour of some fans at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix was criticised by Formula One drivers and deemed "unacceptable" by F1. The Red Bull Ring was sold out, with more than 300,000 fans attending over three days. Some fans were subjected to racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour. There were also reports of sexist abuse.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen, who drives for the Red Bull team, condemned the abusive behaviour. He said, "I think there should be a general understanding that these things shouldn't happen." He urged better security and less drinking, stating that "one thing can be improved with security around places, keep people more in check" and that "sometimes when you drink alcohol, you can do stupid things."
Verstappen's condemnation of the fan behaviour at the Austrian Grand Prix was not an isolated incident. In 2018, he was ordered to perform "public service" by former F1 race director Charlie Whiting after an incident at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen had been leading the race when he was approached from behind by the lapped Force India of Esteban Ocon, who was attempting to unlap himself. The pair collided, and Verstappen was found to have breached Article 12.1.1 (c) of the FIA's International Sporting Code as an instigator or accomplice. Whiting admitted that Ocon's manoeuvre was "wholly unacceptable" and that it should have been done "cleanly and absolutely without fighting."
Additionally, Verstappen has faced condemnation from other drivers and fans for the circumstances surrounding his F1 title win in 2021. He overtook Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to claim the championship, with some deeming the race directives from the FIA as controversial and unacceptable.
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Drunk fans and increased security
The Austrian F1 Grand Prix in 2022 was marred by reports of abusive fan behaviour, with some fans facing racist, homophobic, and sexist abuse. Lewis Hamilton took to Instagram to express his disgust and disappointment, urging fans to report any incidents to circuit security and F1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, and Sebastian Vettel also condemned the abusive behaviour. F1 launched an investigation into the unacceptable abuse, stating that they had received reports from fans who had been verbally abused.
The issue of drunk fans was raised as a contributing factor to the unacceptable behaviour. Verstappen urged better security and less drinking, suggesting that alcohol can lead to people doing stupid things. There were reports of female F1 fans being harassed, with one woman claiming that a group of drunk fans lifted up her dress because she was a Hamilton fan. The incident sparked discussions about improving inclusivity and diversity in Formula 1, ensuring that races are safe spaces for all fans.
The Red Bull Ring was sold out with more than 300,000 fans attending over three days, and the event had already been under scrutiny for Hamilton's crash during qualifying being met with cheers and celebrations from some Verstappen fans. The behaviour of drunk fans and the need for increased security became a significant concern, with some suggesting that the setting of the event was more festival-like, attracting less sports-minded attendees.
In response to the incidents, F1 and the FIA emphasized their commitment to creating a safe and accepting environment for everyone. Security was increased at the Red Bull Ring on race day, and F1 encouraged fans to report any incidents to both circuit security and F1 directly. The investigation and increased security measures aimed to address the unacceptable behaviour and ensure the safety and well-being of all fans attending future races.
The Austrian GP promoter also played a role in addressing the issue, working with F1 and event security to improve the situation. While the focus was on condemning and preventing abusive behaviour, there was also recognition that education and spreading a positive message are crucial to creating a long-lasting impact and ensuring that such incidents do not occur again in the future.
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F1's investigation and response
F1 launched an investigation into the unacceptable abuse at the Austrian Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and circuit owners Red Bull joining F1 in condemning the reported abusive fan behaviour. Hamilton, in a social media post, expressed his disgust and disappointment at the racist, homophobic, and generally abusive behaviour faced by some fans at the circuit. He emphasised that attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any Grand Prix should never be a source of anxiety and pain for fans, and urged people to report any incidents to circuit security and F1.
Hamilton's post was in response to reports of female F1 fans being harassed at the Red Bull Ring, with one woman claiming that a group of drunk fans lifted up her dress because she was a Hamilton fan. Verstappen, while acknowledging the impact of alcohol on people's behaviour, also urged better security to keep people in check. F1 released a statement saying they had been made aware of reports of fans being subjected to unacceptable comments and that they had raised these matters with the promoter and event security. They further stated that they took these matters very seriously and would be speaking to those who reported the incidents.
F1's response to the investigation was to condemn the unacceptable behaviour of some fans at the Austrian Grand Prix, with F1 drivers and teams speaking out against the abuse. F1, along with Alpine and Ferrari, emphasised that Grand Prix events should be safe and accepting environments for everyone. Security was increased at the Red Bull Ring on race day, and F1 discussed the issue of unacceptable fan harassment with the Austrian Grand Prix promoter.
The investigation and response by F1 and the wider Formula One community sent a clear message that abusive and unacceptable fan behaviour would not be tolerated and that Grand Prix events should be safe and inclusive spaces for all attendees.
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Frequently asked questions
In July 2022, F1 launched an investigation into reports of abusive fan behaviour at the Austrian Grand Prix.
There were reports of racist, homophobic, and sexist abuse, as well as general harassment.
Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Sebastian Vettel condemned the abuse. Hamilton wrote on Instagram that he was ""disgusted and disappointed" and urged fans to report any incidents to security. Verstappen said, "these things shouldn’t happen" and urged better security and less drinking.
