Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has clear words for the behaviour of some Formula 1 fans at the track, but also states: The majority know how to behave
The Austrian Grand Prix made headlines this year not only in sporting terms. Various cases of racism and sexism were reported to have occurred among the fans. Formula 1 reacted with a statement and announced its intention to take countermeasures with the organiser.
Many drivers also found clear words on their social media channels. Together with the FIA and Formula 1, they recently launched a new campaign called “Drive It Out” against abuse, insults and attacks on the internet and at the track.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff clarifies in this context: “If you are a real Formula 1 fan, no matter which team, no matter which driver, you cannot be a racist, sexist or homophobe, because you don’t fit into Formula 1 and we don’t want you. “
At the same time, he stresses that they are a minority. “There are a few drunken idiots out there who haven’t understood how the world works today. We shouldn’t judge the other 99.9 per cent of fans who come here. Those idiots will always be there,” Wolff said.
Wolff takes Verstappen fans to task
The Formula One team boss also comes to the defence of the majority of Verstappen fans, who are often associated with such incidents. “You see a lot of Max fans, loyal Max fans, who got the message and realised how to behave in a sporting way. There’s no need to hoot.”
“As I said, overall 99.9 per cent of the fans were great, whether fans of Max, Lewis or Charles. The one per cent cast a shadow on them, but they are the diehards. They can stay at home because we don’t want them here. “
We are united in our desire to drive abuse of all kinds out of the sport we love, and we’re calling on the entire F1 family to join usDriveItOut Together. pic.twitter.com/j0x6vsoars
– Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2022
“I think these people are just stupid,” the Austrian continues. “I have no other explanation than that one is simply brainless if one behaves in any way sexist, racist or homophobic, if one acts abusively. And no alcohol can excuse that either.”
Sport, he says, should polarise and trigger emotions. “That’s what we want,” Wolff emphasises. But the fan camps should not be at war with each other. At Spielberg, for example, a female Hamilton fan was harassed by a group of drunken spectators who lifted up her dress and said that as a Hamilton fan you don’t deserve respect.
Wolff: “We all have to act more consciously “
Mercedes found out at the start of the race and managed to get the fan into the pits for the last 20 laps. “This is just out of line and has to stop,” Wolff warned.
“There is still too much of it. We have to target these guys and pick them out. That’s also what F1 said: report such cases to security if you can. And whoever hears me, I tell them again: stay away, we don’t want you if you belong to this group.”
It is not uncommon for these people to justify themselves with the excuse that it was just a joke and not meant to be taken seriously. But that is part of the problem, says Wolff. “For a long time, if someone made a sexist comment, it seemed like you just had to put it away because it was only meant in jest.”
“That doesn’t work anymore. People feel really hurt or discriminated against. That’s why we all have to act more consciously,” the Mercedes team boss takes himself to task. “We grew up with this banter. How many more pictures do I get sent, along the lines of, hee hee, ha ha.”
“My wife Susie then sees that and says, ‘That was considered funny ten years ago because nobody cared, but I can tell you, for me that’s borderline or for me that’s too much.’ We all just have to change our thinking a little bit. “
