“Racepect.” This is how the organizers of the Mexican Grand Prix dubbed the awareness campaign aimed at fans attending the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit over the weekend.
The goal was to ensure that the battle remained on the track and not in the stands. However, the barrage of boos directed at Charles Leclerc said otherwise.
But let’s take a step back.
Formula 1 has always stood out from other sports for the atmosphere of respect that prevailed in the stands. The on-track spectacle came before fan allegiance, and sharing a day at the racetrack with fans of other teams was (and is) an experience, especially for people of different nationalities coming together.
In recent years, however, with the widespread influence of F1 on social media, something has changed. Hatred began to infiltrate fan discussions, with the situation becoming evident through the immense wave of controversies following the 2021 season.
What happened at this year’s Mexican Grand Prix is indicative of the level “toxic” fandom has reached in Formula 1.
Mexico: Turning Point or Beginning?
Max Verstappen had to be escorted by security personnel to enter the Mexico City racetrack. Charles Leclerc, considered guilty by Mexican fans for ending the race of their favorite, Sergio Perez, was the target of boos and insults during the post-race ceremony. It was the contact between Charles Leclerc and Checo that triggered a brawl among fans in the Foro Sol section.
“We have hosted the F1 for eight years, and we have realized that the audience is changing,” commented Federico Rodriguez, head of the Mexican GP organization.
“This is a phenomenon from other sports. So we went back to explain that F1 is different; the battle takes place only on the track.”
With this perspective, the “Racepect” campaign was launched, and now other circuits are considering following the Mexican example.
“We are proud of the influence it had on our fans. Most of them behaved respectfully. We can only thank the support of the entire Formula 1 community for spreading our message,” Rodriguez explained.
“Max received a fantastic welcome,” echoed Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner. “I can only applaud the Mexican fans for their support.”
A partially successful campaign, one might think, especially considering what happened with Leclerc. But it’s still a first step.
As confirmed by Horner himself, the drastic reduction in paddock passes has also contributed to making the paddock more livable.
“This year, the situation was significantly better, even just to go to the bathroom,” he joked.
It remains to be seen if and to what extent the campaigns adopted by the FIA will yield results. The feeling is that in the 2023 season, Verstappen’s dominance has subdued rivalries, with only Perez’s fans showing frustration toward the Dutchman.
But if Liberty Media manages to secure a close-fought world championship battle until the last race? In that case, the effectiveness of the FIA’s awareness campaign can be assessed. Until then, the work must continue.
Source: f1ingenerale
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