Formula 1: F1 commentator Lionel Froissart, who works for RTBF Sport has been suspended after he called Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll ‘Autistic’ during the live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring. Meanwhile, Aston Martin are pleased after they received an apology from the RTBF broadcasters. Follow Formula 1 and French GP LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Froissart spoke about the Canadian driver and said, “Aston Martin wants to keep Sebastian Vettel, it’s not Lance Stroll the autistic who is going to understand anything about cars”.
LATEST: Lionel Froissart has been suspended after calling Lance Stroll “the autistic” live on a TV broadcast
“RTBF strongly condemns the words used on Sunday, July 10, on air by its consultant Lionel Froissart during the Austrian Grand Prix,” #F1 #Formula1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/IKwc1MhdGu
— FormulaNerds 🤓🏁 (@Formula_Nerds) July 13, 2022
Meanwhile, his fellow colleague and commentator Gaetan Vigneron told him that his remarks are ‘too strong’ and he ‘went too far’ with it. Meanwhile, Froissart replied, “Honestly, that is the truth.”
Furthermore, RTBF have now made an announcement hammering the utilization of the word, demanding a full examination will be directed into the occurrence.
The statement from RTBF said, “RTBF strongly condemns the words used on Sunday, July 10, on air by its consultant Lionel Froissart during the Austrian Grand Prix. 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.”
Meanwhile, Lance Stroll finished thirteenth overall and four places above his teammate Sebastian Vettel, who finished seventeenth. It was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who won the Austrian Grand Prix and his first race since the Australian GP. It was also his first from not being in the pole position.
Moreover, Lance Stroll sees himself down in the nineteenth spot in the drivers’ standings with just 3 points to his name. His team-mate and veteran F1 driver Sebastian Vettel is placed fourteenth overall with 15 points. Furthermore, Aston Martin reels behind in the ninth spot in the constructors’ standings with just 18 points.
Halfway point of the season (11/22 races) 👀#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/S6rPxRScO0
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 10, 2022
