Bearman hits back at online trolls targeting former teammate Antonelli
Haas F1 driver Oliver Bearman has hit back at the critics of Kimi Antonelli in the aftermath of the online abuse he suffered after the Qatar Grand Prix.
“It's always the case that people behind the screen are horrible.”- Oliver Bearman
Speaking to GPblog in Abu Dhabi, the British driver condemned the act, describing such online trolls as terrible.
“Generally, it's always the case that people behind the screen are horrible—the scum of the earth, really. I don't think they should be doing that type of stuff to someone. I understand that people who've been in F1 for a very long time get used to it,” he said.
The 20-year-old further labelled the criticism of his former Formula 2 teammate as a joke before adding that it should not be tolerated.
“For people who are rookies, it may be their first experience with that type of criticism, but that criticism is an absolute joke. It shouldn't be tolerated, and I know the FIA is doing everything they can to stop it, but the problem is these sad people giving those types of criticisms. It's a joke,” he added.
Bearman concluded by detailing the high-octane nature of racing in F1 and how unfair it is to be greeted with criticism after such a challenging outing.
“We're putting our lives on the line to entertain people and to give those who are passionate about the sport a good time. Yet you have people like that who are just hurting others, and that's not just racing—that's also affecting their personal lives. I just think people are terrible. The real people of the world are terrible,” Bearman concluded.
The words of the Haas F1 driver were corroborated by several other F1 drivers who condemned the abuse aimed at the young driver.
Antonelli reveals Verstappen’s reaction to online abuse
Earlier, Antonelli revealed the support he received from Max Verstappen amid the barrage of abuse he faced online. The Mercedes driver also stated he spoke with Red Bull Racing engineer Gian Piero Lambiase in the aftermath of the Qatar Grand Prix.
It should be noted that Antonelli was subject to online criticism and abuse after fans judged him to have allowed an easy overtake for Lando Norris in the final stages of the race at the Lusail Circuit.
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