A NEWSPAPER column was published last week that reopened the wounds from the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.

The writer also sought to express their opinions on Red Bull and their boss Christian Horner.

It was woven together with the team’s boycott of Sky’s Formula One coverage for a presenter’s attitude to Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s explanation for breaching the sport’s cost-cap.

The whole matter was played out on Twitter, which has become a social media cesspit.

There have been death threats against Sky presenters, while Red Bull chief Adrian Newey’s wife, Amanda, suffered disgusting abuse for defending her husband’s team.

God knows what messages the drivers themselves receive!

That goes on top of the abusive behaviour in the grandstands and fans burning merchandise at races this year.

It got me thinking — when did F1’s fanbase become so toxic?

Traditionally, fans have supported a favourite driver but were respectful when another had a good race or did something special, like setting a new record for wins in a season.

Unlike say football, F1 supporters were fans of the sport, not necessarily one team or one driver.

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Yet the current fanbase seems tribal and hell-bent on trashing the other on social media.

What has caused it? It would be wrong to label it as all Verstappen fans — I know this because of the abuse fans of other drivers also dish out on social media.

But, that said, there is more of a football-fan vibe from the Dutch who follow Verstappen.

For starters, they mainly wear their country’s colours, not Red Bull’s. They go to the race to see one person win — Verstappen.

They aren’t especially bothered if Sergio Perez wins for Red Bull, they want to see their hero win, and there is nothing wrong with that but it is a break from tradition.

Then there is the Netflix factor. New fans have been lured in by some manipulated storylines with F1 stars effectively acting their own roles.

The lines between truth and fiction have been blurred and maybe it has created a culture that is not truly reflective of life in the paddock.

And in society itself it now seems acceptable to type such obscenities onto a platform without thought or the prospect of retrospective action.

F1 has done a good job of growing the fanbase but it faces a big task in uniting them without the social media abuse.

And perhaps the best way to do that next season is by letting the racing tell its own story, rather than Netflix.

TELLY viewers may be relieved Sky F1 and Red Bull Racing are now friends again.

They fell out after reporter Ted Kravitz said Lewis Hamilton was “robbed” of the 2021 title — but is all sorted  ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

IT was fitting Suzuki won the MotoGP season’s final race in Valencia as the Japanese team have quit the series.

They had signed up until 2026 and have not said why they’re pulling out.

It is a big shame and I hope they may return one day.

A NEWSPAPER column was published last week that reopened the wounds from the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP.

The writer also sought to express their opinions on Red Bull and their boss Christian Horner.

It was woven together with the team’s boycott of Sky’s Formula One coverage for a presenter’s attitude to Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s explanation for breaching the sport’s cost-cap.

The whole matter was played out on Twitter, which has become a social media cesspit.

There have been death threats against Sky presenters, while Red Bull chief Adrian Newey’s wife, Amanda, suffered disgusting abuse for defending her husband’s team.

God knows what messages the drivers themselves receive!

That goes on top of the abusive behaviour in the grandstands and fans burning merchandise at races this year.

It got me thinking — when did F1’s fanbase become so toxic?

Traditionally, fans have supported a favourite driver but were respectful when another had a good race or did something special, like setting a new record for wins in a season.

Unlike say football, F1 supporters were fans of the sport, not necessarily one team or one driver.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

Yet the current fanbase seems tribal and hell-bent on trashing the other on social media.

What has caused it? It would be wrong to label it as all Verstappen fans — I know this because of the abuse fans of other drivers also dish out on social media.

But, that said, there is more of a football-fan vibe from the Dutch who follow Verstappen.

For starters, they mainly wear their country’s colours, not Red Bull’s. They go to the race to see one person win — Verstappen.

They aren’t especially bothered if Sergio Perez wins for Red Bull, they want to see their hero win, and there is nothing wrong with that but it is a break from tradition.

Then there is the Netflix factor. New fans have been lured in by some manipulated storylines with F1 stars effectively acting their own roles.

The lines between truth and fiction have been blurred and maybe it has created a culture that is not truly reflective of life in the paddock.

And in society itself it now seems acceptable to type such obscenities onto a platform without thought or the prospect of retrospective action.

F1 has done a good job of growing the fanbase but it faces a big task in uniting them without the social media abuse.

And perhaps the best way to do that next season is by letting the racing tell its own story, rather than Netflix.

TELLY viewers may be relieved Sky F1 and Red Bull Racing are now friends again.

They fell out after reporter Ted Kravitz said Lewis Hamilton was “robbed” of the 2021 title — but is all sorted  ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

IT was fitting Suzuki won the MotoGP season’s final race in Valencia as the Japanese team have quit the series.

They had signed up until 2026 and have not said why they’re pulling out.

It is a big shame and I hope they may return one day.