A variety of allegations, together with of sexual harassment, have emerged on social media from folks attending this weekend’s race on the Pink Bull Ring in Spielberg.
Components One bosses have launched an investigation into the claims, describing them as “fully unacceptable”.
Lewis Hamilton mentioned he’s “disgusted and upset” following studies that followers have been subjected to racist, homophobic and sexist abuse on the Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who took intention at quite a lot of Max Verstappen’s supporters after they cheered his 140mph qualifying crash right here on Friday, wrote on Instagram: “Disgusted and upset to listen to that some followers are dealing with racist, homophobic and customarily abusive behaviour on the circuit this weekend.
“Attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any GP ought to by no means be a supply of hysteria and ache for followers and one thing should be achieved to make sure that races are secure areas for all.
“Please, in the event you see this taking place, report it to circuit safety and to F1. We can not sit again and permit this to proceed.”
Later, after taking his third podium in as many races, Hamilton added: “I arrived with a extremely optimistic mindset this morning after which I heard a number of the issues which were mentioned.
“I used to be in shock and actually unhappy. Individuals arrive to have a good time, have a good time, and revel in an incredible expertise.
“Within the UK there are a wide-range of followers, however right here you might have a whole lot of the Orange Military. To know that somebody sitting in a crowd, who’s supporting another person, is receiving abuse, it’s loopy to suppose we’re experiencing these kind of issues in 2022.
“We now have to do extra and it highlights that it’s nonetheless a problem throughout and it comes right down to schooling.
“We now have to work collectively to make use of our platforms to unfold that optimistic phrase as a result of folks ought to come right here and will really feel secure and included.
“It is best to be capable of observe whoever. It shouldn’t matter in your gender, your sexuality or on the color of your pores and skin.”
An earlier assertion from F1 learn: “We now have been made conscious of studies that some followers have been topic to fully unacceptable feedback by others on the Austrian Grand Prix.
“We take these issues very severely, have raised them with the promoter and occasion safety, and shall be talking to those that reported the incidents. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.”
Sixty thousand followers have travelled from Holland to show this weekend’s race into a house occasion for Verstappen.
