Yes, I’m aware the title of this blog isn’t the nicest to address an issue within some fan bases. Well, I prefer to say visitors as these people are far from fans. I know, they will say we are fans, and some of you will blame it on the harsh world we live in. Probably some of you are offended by the title. However, it doesn’t mean that what has happened this year at the stands during several Grand Prix weekends or at the VIP decks should simply be accepted. Something has to be done about it.
To address my concerns it is the hideous and shameless way “fans” have behaving themselves during the season. The curve started in the Covid-19 period when people were stuck in lockdowns, feeling alone and empty inside. The period that many use today as an escape goat for their behaviour, it seems. I won’t agree that it had an effect on most of our lives. However, it can’t be used as an excuse for the behaviour that since then is occurring on the stands and outside the stands.
Somehow, it seems accepted that people get aggressive during race weekends and after a race weekends. Online and in real life, it doesn’t matter. People are getting aggressive if their favourite driver isn’t winning. To empower their rage they bring up hideous conspiracy theories and start to threaten others who don’t agree on them. You see this behaviour with Max and Lewis growing for absolutely no reason.
You don’t fool saying that this is a pure passion, no this is a lack of love for the sport and an insane hater within some once soul. I clearly remember the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix when some lame Verstappen fan burned a Mercedes cap to show his “support” or “disagreement” with the Mercedes team. I remember the crying Lewis fans shouting and threatening. Besides, some of the hardened McLaren and yes also my beloved Ferrari fans are this hideous in behaviour. I experienced it myself with “angry” Verstappen fans. What a bunch of morons.
This year however shit escalated heavily. Fans attacking each other physically on the stands most of them seem to be drug addicts or people with personality issue. Many videos circulated this season about fans beating each other. The funniest one was in Abu Dhabi when the VIPS after too much coke and alcohol started to attack each other after the race. Hilarious and sad the same time.
Sure, in the past you had dedicated Mansell, Hill, Verstappen, Schumi and Lavaggi fans who were proud supporters. However, the aggression seen this year and the escalation worries me. Saddest is that the drivers, the teams nor the FIA/FOM seem to care at all to halt this hideous behaviour from so called fans.
Those who misbehave are getting a lifetime ban on visiting Grand Prix what I understood. Is it really a punishment for them? Like football hooligans, you don’t punish them by banning them from a venture. I truly believe that the Formula One itself should come with a strong statement. Not that I believe they will be able to deliver a strong message. The only solution for those hooligans in the sport is to send them to a mental institution for some help and hoping for the best.
