Red Bull boss Horner calls for "zero tolerance" on fan abuse

PARIS (AP) — Red Bull team principal Christian Horner thinks fans should be able to express themselves at Formula One races because rivalries are common in sport. But Horner called on a “zero tolerance” policy for the kind of abuse and bullying witnessed at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Fans used social media to make F1 aware of rampant harassment, sexism, racism, and homophobia in the grandstands of Spielberg two weeks ago. Red Bull's Sergio Perez called for abusers to face life bans from F1 races.

“I think there needs to be a zero tolerance for any form of abuse. I think that’s something the whole sport, the teams, are absolutely aligned on," Horner told The Associated Press in a Friday interview.

"We’re seeing unprecedented levels of interest and growth in our sport. Crowds are at a record level. But obviously what we don’t want is a small minority to in any way dampen that experience. Any form of abuse or bullying, there should be an absolutely zero tolerance policy towards.”

There has been boorish behavior from fans at several recent F1 races.

Hamilton was jeered when he crashed his Mercedes during a practice in Austria, and both Horner and Max Verstappen were booed in the previous race at Silverstone.

Last year, Hamilton was jeered in Hungary and the Netherlands, as tensions spilled over following a first-lap crash between Hamilton and Verstappen at Silverstone. Verstappen was taken to a local hospital for evaluation after the crash.

"People were cheering when Max went in the ambulance at Silverstone last year. Sport is polarizing in many respects. You see it in other forms of sport," Horner told The AP ahead of the French Grand Prix. "It’s not been prevalent in motor racing previously, but there’s a new fan base that