Will Buxton slammed Formula 1 drivers who fail to denounce toxic online support as complicit in the abuse.
Force‑edback drama dims Baku weekend
After celebrating his 2025 championship, Lando Norris took to the comment section following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and suggested Franco Colapinto deserved a race ban. Colapinto’s passionate Argentine supporters launched a torrent of harassment toward Norris, provoking a safety‑car crash that saw Colapinto, Pierre Gasly and Norris all retire.
Drivers’ duty: no silence
In the Up To Speed podcast, Buxton said that “the incumbent on any public figure, particularly sports people, is to call out abusive rhetoric.” He questioned why Colapinto, who had issued a statement against fan abuse before, had not “spoken strongly enough” this week.
Historical echo of fan violence
Buxton cited similar patterns, noting that Sergio Perez’s Argentine fans had repeatedly posted hateful content and that, during 2021 after Abu Dhabi, Hamilton’s supporters spread vile messages. He recalled receiving disgusting material during a winter break and highlighted how Latifi faced death threats during that same period.
Complicity and the collective response
When a driver remains silent, Buxton argues, it equates to complicity, and the racing community loses an ally in ending the harassment. He urges front‑line voices to explicitly refuse association with the vile remarks of their fanbase.
Photo by: Michael Potts / LAT images via Getty Images
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