Posts accumulated on Twitter over the weekend, according to which women in particular were verbally or physically harassed on the ring premises. Formula 1 announced on its official Twitter channel that “completely unacceptable comments” had been made aware of. “This behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” it said on Sunday.
Formula 1 is already in contact with the organizer and the security service and also wants to talk to people who have reported incidents. On Twitter, several apparently female users reported suggestive sayings, calls, whistles, gestures or assaults. “The girl who sells ice cream (i.e. WORKS) is constantly being harassed by older drunk men. It’s awful,” wrote one user.
Lewis Hamilton: “Disgusted and disappointed”
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton wrote on Instagram that he was “disgusted and disappointed”. “Visiting the Austrian or any Grand Prix must never cause fear and pain among fans,” wrote the Mercedes driver. “We must not sit back and allow this to continue.”
According to its own statements, Formula 1 is already in contact with the organizer and the security service. The motorsport premier class also announced talks with the people who reported the incidents.
Hardly any problems, according to emergency services
The police reported a few fights and thefts, one person had to be taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The traffic on arrival was tough, but orderly. There were no reports of sexual harassment before the start of the race.
“Surprisingly quiet” in view of the more than 300,000 guests, the race weekend went on until the start of the Grand Prix. As every year, there was a traffic jam and delays on arrival, but that couldn’t really be avoided, said spokesman Christoph Grill to the APA. Overall, one is “satisfied” with the traffic management. When leaving, it is still important that the fans follow the instructions of the police. “Even if the route then goes in the opposite direction than planned, the drivers should stick to it, because we coordinate the traffic with a view from the air,” says Grill.
On the campsites it was already busy at the weekend and especially at night – “especially after the end of the bar at 2 a.m. there were still intensive movements of the fans,” said Grill. Overall, however, things went well.
The Red Cross had a lot to do, especially on Friday: several dozen fans were apparently stung by bees in the meadows around the ring. The police reported an incident with a drone: A fan wanted to take photos from the air and sent his drone up. The special unit Cobra discovered them and jammed the radio in order to bring the device to the ground in a controlled manner.
Source: Nachrichten
