The Austrian Grand Prix was a controversy-filled weekend both on and off the track, leading Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to tell some fans to "f*** off" and stay away from the sport altogether.
That came after reports of sexist, racist and homophobic behaviour in Spielberg, which regularly hosts one of the more raucous atmospheres on the Formula 1 calendar. One spectator described the "disappointing" scenes at the Red Bull Ring, where they allegedly witnessed 'racist and homophobic slurs.'
Another female fan said they had only been at the Austrian venue for 90 minutes before receiving misogynistic abuse, followed by "inappropriate touching and many more misogynistic comments." F1 and the FIA both condemned any form of abuse, while Wolff was more colourful in his criticism of the perpetrators.
"F*** off," said the Silver Arrows' team principal, as per ESPN , after Sunday's race, where Charles Leclerc pipped Red Bull 's Max Verstappen to first place. "If you are part of that category, f*** off. We just need to target these guys and pick them out and say 'you.'
"This is what Formula 1 has said and we have said and that you need to report to the security if you can. And whoever reads my sentence: stay away, we don't want you if you are part of that group."
The Austrian GP is particularly popular among Red Bull supporters and Dutch fans alike, many of whom travel from the Netherlands to back Verstappen. One Lewis Hamilton supporter alleged her dress was lifted up by drunk spectators before telling her 'no Hamilton fan deserves any respect' after being confronted.
Who do you think will be crowned 2022 F1 champion? Let us know in the comments section.
The fan in question was given a tour of the Mercedes garage after posting an account of the incident online. Other spectators subjected to abuse in Spielberg were invited into the paddock.
"I think it's just people being stupid," added Wolff. "I have no other explanation for people abusing -- in whatever way, sexist, hedonistic, homophobic or racist -- you are just simply brainless. And no alcohol can excuse that.
"The sport polarises and triggers emotions, we want that. We shouldn't condemn all of them but put these few idiots out. We mustn't come across as though we are condemning a group of fans, because we are not. I have seen them climbing on the fences and when Lewis stood up I looked at them and nobody was booing, and they were hardcore and drank and there was still no booing."
Drivers were also targeted by spectators, who drew the ire of Hamilton after the seven-time world champion crashed in Q3 on Friday. That encouraged cheers from many of the Verstappen supporters in attendance, which Hamilton 'couldn't condone.'
"A driver could have been in hospital, and you're going to cheer that? I mean, it's just mind-blowing that people will do that, knowing how dangerous our sport is," said the Mercedes star. "I'm grateful that I wasn't in hospital and I wasn't heavily injured. You should never cheer someone's downfall, someone's injury or crash."
Red Bull rival Verstappen also condemned those who cheered Hamilton's demise and told The Guardian : "Those people are not really F1 fans." A second-place finish in Austria leaves Verstappen 38 points ahead of Ferrari 's Leclerc after 11 races this season.
