FIA condemns booing of Horner and Verstappen during F1 75 Live: 'Disappointing to hear the tribal reaction from the crowd'

An unprecedented event in the history of the Formula 1, the F1 75 Live ceremony, organized to "celebrate" the 75th anniversary of the championship, was undeniably a media success for the discipline. Unfortunately, not everything was perfect. While the reception from viewers was rather mixed, the evening was marked by a few hiccups concerning the public present on site, at the O2 Arena in London. Despite the obvious fervor of the spectators, most of them British, certain behaviors did not go unnoticed... including whistles directed at Christian Horner and Max Verstappen when they entered the stage to present the livery of the RB21.

The four-time world champion and Team Principal of Red Bull were roundly booed by the London public, won over to the cause of the British pilots (Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell). All have had dealings with the Dutch driver, whether on or off the track. Between the incredible rivalry with Lewis Hamilton in 2021, the tough duels with Lando Norris in 2024 and the insults with George Russell in recent months, Max Verstappen has not made a very good reputation for himself in the United Kingdom, and this was felt throughout the evening in London. Moreover, the Dutchman hesitated for a long time to participate in this ceremony according to his father, Jos Verstappen, who had confided his son's desire to boycott to RaceXpress.

“Sport is based on a culture of respect” FIA recalls

On Saturday night, four days after the event, the FIA ​​finally reacted regarding the behavior of the London crowd and the booing of Christian Horner and Max Verstappen. The governing body – itself booed by spectators during the evening – regrets the booing of the two players in the discipline and condemns the lack of consideration and respect towards the members of the Red Bull team.

"The great rivalries that have marked the history of motorsport have contributed to making it an exciting experience for the public. But at all levels, sport is based on the culture of respect, says an FIA spokesperson. As such, it was disappointing to hear the tribal reaction from the crowd towards world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull principal Christian Horner at the presentation in London. Both Max and Christian have made a huge contribution to our sport and we must not lose sight of that in the coming season.

“As part of the FIA’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the sport, we are combating abuse on social media under the banner of our ‘United Against Online Abuse’ campaign, adds the FIA. We stand with all competitors, officials, volunteers and fans to unite against this growing threat. We urge the sporting community to consider the impact of these acts, online and in real life.

It is no secret that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has made online abuse a priority for his first term in office, with the United Against Online Abuse initiative involving representatives from sports other than motor racing. The FIA ​​has notably introduced a new sanction scale against drivers who use foul language or insults in front of the media. The issue is expected to be raised at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council, which will be held on February 26.

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