Online a**** is an issue that has existed since the time people learned how to use social media. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has now made a heartfelt appeal to F1 fans to support the team personnel, as the harsh online hostility directed towards it affects them negatively. The team has collaborated with the Mental Health Foundation on X. 

In the video uploaded by McLaren on X on June 20, Brown urged fans to remember that F1 is powered not just by the drivers but also by the employees working tirelessly behind the scenes, whose efforts often go unnoticed. Here’s an excerpt from Zak Brown’s message in the video:

“We know racing is emotional and that our fans care deeply. We accept pressure and criticism, but a**** is different, and we do not accept it. It affects our drivers, our mechanics, our engineers, our strategists, and our families. Real people behind the papaya. 

"So on this Stop Cyberbullying Day, together with the Mental Health Foundation, we're asking everyone to pause before they post. Passion belongs in racing, but a**** does not.”

The timing of this video is interesting, considering that the team has been subject to heavy online criticism for its strategies in the recent few races.

While the campaign itself was made with good intentions, the video has also not gone down well with people online, with many sharing the opinion that the team does not do enough to protect its drivers, but is suddenly issuing this video after feeling the heat.

In 2022, Lando Norris spoke to The Sun, and in that interaction, he admitted he would get serious threats quite often. This had even briefly led him to step away from social media.

However, as of 2026, he continues to maintain his social handles, but based on the comments on the team’s recent video, Norris continues to be subject to online a**** even after 2022.

When Red Bull apologized to Antonelli for Norris’ overtake

The current championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, was also subject to online a**** after comments made by members of the Red Bull team. After the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix, Gianpiero Lambiase’s radio comments to Max Verstappen suggested that Antonelli deliberately let Norris overtake him. 

These comments were then reinforced by former motorsport advisor Helmut Marko while addressing the media after the race. The Mercedes driver’s comments section was soon swarmed by hate comments and threats, and he turned his profile picture to just a black background. 

Reports suggest that Lambiase cleared the matter with Toto Wolff soon afterwards, and formula1.com reported that the Red Bull team issued an apologetic statement, saying, “Comments made before the end of and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect.

"Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online a****." 

Read more at Motor Culture! 

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason