SPIELBERG, Austria — Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said lifetime bans should be handed out to “brainless” abusive fans after a number of incidents among attendees at the Red Bull Ring overshadowed the Austrian Grand Prix.
Multiple accounts of anti-gay, racist or sexist abuse were shared on social media by fans in the buildup to the race.
F1 condemned the abuse in a statement ahead of the race and said it will talk to the organisers to find a solution going forward.
Mercedes boss Wolff gave the clearest message of what he thought of the fans in question.
“F— off,” Wolff said Sunday evening. “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 One 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.”
Several of the victims of the abuse were invited into the paddock before the race.
Mercedes gave a garage tour to one Lewis Hamilton fan who published an account of her abuse on Twitter.
She wrote: “I had a dress on yesterday and a group of 5 Dutch fans lifted up my dress and when I confronted them they said no Hamilton fan deserves any respect at all.”
The Austrian Grand Prix is a popular race for Dutch fans who make the journey south from the Netherlands to support reigning world champion Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s 2021 title rival.
Campsites are spread around the Red Bull Ring and the atmosphere of the race is often likened to a music festival.
Verstappen said excessive alcohol consumption may have contributed to the abuse.
“One thing can be improved with security to keep people in check,” Verstappen said. “It’s not an excuse, but they watch the races and then they go back and party and have fun and drink alcohol.
“Sometimes when you drink alcohol you can do stupid things — I don’t say this as an excuse. These things can be regulated.
“A certain amount of alcohol maybe until it’s time to go to bed and wake up again the next morning and be sober. Because if you start to go really crazy you can do stupid things.”
Wolff said F1 must not tarnish an entire fan base based on the behaviour of a minority, pointing out that Hamilton received a warm reception on the podium after finishing in third position.
“I think it’s just people being stupid,” he said. “I have no other explanation for people abusing — in whatever way, sexist, hedonistic, homophobic or racist — you are just…
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