A Formula 1 commentator has been suspended from his role after insulting Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll during the Austrian Grand Prix.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF Sport condemned Lionel Froissart, its French-language commentator, after he allegedly labelled Stroll “the autistic” during last Sunday’s race event.
Froissart’s colleague Gaetan Vigneron fired back that Froissart comments were “too strong”, and that he was going “too far”.
However, Froissart doubled down on his remark, stating: “It’s the truth.”
Following the incident, RTBF released a statement distancing itself from Froissart, announcing that it had suspended him until further notice while an investigation is carried out.
“RTBF strongly condemns the words used on Sunday, July 10, on air by its consultant Lionel Froissart during the Austrian Grand Prix,” read the statement.
“Associating autism with a driver’s way of communicating was misplaced and completely inconsistent with RTBF values.
“An internal investigation will be conducted, to hear all the involved persons. The goal is to understand in detail what could have led to this incident.
“Pending the results of this investigation, RTBF will no longer work with the consultant in question until further notice.”
The treatment of drivers has been a prominent topic in recent weeks, after Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were subject to fan abuse in Great Britain and Austria respectively.
Hamilton was also the subject of a racial abuse remark made by three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet, with an old interview coming to light prior to Hamilton’s home race at Silverstone.
Lionel Froissart should be banned for life from all F1 circuits and for presenting any commentary on F1.
RTBF should dismiss him immediately.
For his penance he should spend a lifetime being strapped to chair in a special needs school on the sabbath. At breaktime all the children should be handed a paddle bat to make hay on his head. All sponsored by Red Bull Team. Go team 🍊range.
I like Stroll, he seems quite an affable chap, and he’s a decent driver who’ll be able to show it when Aston get their car sorted, and this wasn’t a nice thing to say about him. On the other hand, things are going too far these days. Free speech includes the ability to upset folk, and also includes the facility for them to speak back in a like manner, which is how it used to be and to what we need to return. There’s an industry on the go nowadays, which seeks to be offended, many times on behalf of others who have expressed no such feelings themselves, and its response is to seek to cancel those with whose speech they disagree. This is mainly, though not exclusively, a left-wing pursuit, and often comes around to bite those who have sought to limit the free speech of others. JK Rowling being a prime example. Having been, for years, a darling of the lefties, she now finds herself the target of constant abuse for daring to seek protection for the rights of women.
The report makes no mention of whether Stroll himself has reacted, or is even aware of it. If he isn’t aware, I think the censure on-air by the man’s colleague is all that’s necessary. If he is aware, and feels insulted, then a reply along the lines of. “The guy’s obviously a jerk, and I’m not going to lose sleep over the opinions of such a worm”, would be apposite. If Stroll is aware and completely unpeturbed, again the on-air censure suffices, because I don’t think it’s anyone else’s place other than Stroll’s to take exception. In many cases, I reckon the person who brings this kind of insult to the attention of the target, when they had no knowledge of it, is as culpable as the one who made the insult in the first instance. Why reveal to someone unaware what has been said about them? That simply creates the opportunity for negative feelings where none previously existed. Oftentimes, ignorance can be best left in bliss.
Despite the silly placards of the protestors, words are not violence. In the end, if we all grow a thicker skin and ignore insults, rather than overreacting to them, or, as an alternative, simply fire a few choice words back and then let go of it, that will enable us all to enjoy our free speech whilst allowing that of others on an equal basis. Offence cannot be given, it can only be taken, and if people choose not to take it we’ll all be in a better place.
Three things. Firstly, JK Rowling faces abuse for identifying herself as a TERF and being horrendously transphobic. Secondly, Lance Stroll is rubbish. He’s just a pay driver who is there because of his daddy’s money (just like Nikita Mazepin was). Thirdly, when you are in a position of influence (such as the TV presenter or JK Rowling as a prominent author) it’s not okay to use language, like using autistic as an insult or express hate towards a specific group of people.
Which statements, precisely, by JK Rowling are you claiming are horrendously transphobic or express hatred?
FAO
Dami,
I printed your hilarious ramblings and placed it on our noticeborad. So far the medical conclusions are as follows
7 (that includes physicians, pathologists & pharmacists) have concluded you need to an assessment for bipolar.
4 just concluded your doctor needs to adjust your medication.
The others were fitting with laughter & couldn’t qualify a judgement to your ramblings. But did conclude, they’d pay good money to see you live at any venue.
Will you be taking your show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August ? Can we book tickets in advance ?
Kind Regards
Biff
As usual your drivel is high in invective but blatantly lacking in rational argument.