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Grand Prix in Spielberg (symbol image)
Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
The Austrian Grand Prix has been overshadowed by numerous reports of sexism, sexual harassment, homophobic and racist remarks in the grandstands in Spielberg.
Formula 1 also responded in an official statement on Sunday morning.
"We have been made aware that some fans have been subjected to completely unacceptable comments," it said.
The matter will be discussed with the race promoter and the responsible security, “and we will speak to those who have reported the incidents.
We take this very seriously.
Such behavior will not be tolerated, all fans should be treated with respect."
»Visiting a Grand Prix should never cause worry or pain«
Numerous women had reported on social media about running the gauntlet in the stands, which were mostly occupied by men, and that homophobia and racism were also a big problem there.
These experiences also extended to the huge campsites around the route and would have been part of everyday life in Spielberg in recent years.
The women reported on Twitter, among other things, whistles, so-called catcalling.
The perpetrators are said to be mostly Dutch fans.
A girl selling ice cream was constantly being harassed by older drunk men.
A female Lewis Hamilton fan was reportedly told by Verstappen supporters that they didn't deserve any respect.
Such descriptions could not initially be verified.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton wrote on Instagram on Sunday that he was "disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans were confronted with racist, homophobic and generally offensive behavior".
»Visiting a Grand Prix should never cause worry or pain.
Something needs to be done to make the races safe.”
"We must not sit back and allow things to continue like this," said Hamilton, who had already shown himself irritated and disappointed that fans of the Dutch World Cup leader Max Verstappen, who had traveled to Styria in their tens of thousands, in an accident Hamiltons had clapped in qualifying.
ara/sid/dpa
