Lewis Hamilton has hit out at the fans who cheered as he crashed out of qualifying on Friday, insisting that such a reaction to accidents has no place in the sport.

Just a week ago, each minor mistake by Max Verstappen was greeted with a large roar of approval from the crowd, even more so when the Dutchman spun at Stowe in Q3.

On Friday however, during qualifying, an equally partisan crowd cheered when Lewis Hamilton went off into the barriers in Q3.

Though it was only the Briton's pride that was dented, it was not a good look for the sport.

"I didn't hear them during, I mean, I was going through a bunch of stuff in the crash," he admitted when asked about the cheering in the aftermath of the Sprint.

"But to hear it afterwards, you know, I don't agree or condone any of that no matter what," he added. "A driver could have been in hospital, and you're going to cheer that?

"It's just mind-blowing that people will do that, just knowing how dangerous our sport is.

"I'm grateful that I wasn't in hospital, and I wasn't heavily injured, but you should never cheer someone's downfall or someone's injury or crash. It shouldn't have happened in Silverstone, even though it wasn't obviously a crash, and it shouldn't have happened here."

As we said last week, this isn't something new, when Michael Schumacher crashed on the opening lap of the 1999 British Grand Prix, a large portion of the crowd cheered its approval, the German missing much of the second half of the season as a result of the crash.

However, with the way the sport is being promoted at present, the focus on personalities, the drivers' strong presence on social media, not to mention the obvious nationalist aspect, such is the nature of the best.

In recent weeks, George Russell and Toto Wolff have spoken out over the crowd booing certain drivers, the Austrian particularly incensed by the cheering on Friday.

"Booing is not right in any sport," he said. "Teams fight, but booing is a personal attack on the driver. We heard them at Silverstone too and they were not good."

Fact is, other than the fact that booing your rival and cheering your favourite is an age-old thing, much of the bitterness that is creeping in at present is due to the likes of Wolff, Horner, Hamilton and the rest.

The two team bosses never miss an opportunity to take a swipe at one another, be it an (almost) outright claim of cheating or knowing-wink barb.

Then, in the wake of last Sunday's thrilling battle, Hamilton simply had to take a swipe at his nemesis, Verstappen, by making the "sensible" remark about Charles Leclerc's move on him at Copse.

All these things add up, and in a world of social media where some feel they are free to say and do almost anything without repercussions, there will always be that minority that take things too far.

It doesn't need the likes of team bosses or drivers to further stir the sh**.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Editor, 12/07/2022 11:47

"@ Pavlo

In terms of what happened at the Red Bull Ring, it now appears that all is not entirely what it seems.

As for Max... well, there's history. When Eddie Jordan didn't employ Jos Verstappen there were threats to him and his team. I am also aware of some totally bizarre stuff involving Jos' 'fans' and Bridgestone and Minardi."

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2. Posted by Hobgoblin, 12/07/2022 8:59

"@ Endre - "There is a reason why Hamilton is the most hated F1 "World Champion" in history."

Is he though? Do you have statistics to back that up, or is it just your opinion?"

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3. Posted by Pavlo, 10/07/2022 23:07

"As a person who visited the GP I must say: fans of Max are different from all the fans I ever saw. Reminded me UK football fans, but here it’s not for the flag, but for one person. They have songs like „Super Max“, they have all unified flags, and around half (!) of the cars on the parking lot are with Dutch numberplates. The small parking for motorcycles had around 10 bikes, all with Dutch plates, and it’s like 1000 I’m from Netherlands. This level of support is like religion, so it’s not a surprise for me that some (!) of the fans made unpleasant reactions.
Plus F1 did everything to create rivalry between Max and Lewis, even more expectable reaction of the fans.
Still with all that, me and my small son in Ferrari colors, as well as our neighbours in Mercedes, felt comfortable and fine in the orange crowd, had nice conversations etc. So really - the whole „booing“ story is a bit of media hype, as I think."

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4. Posted by TON, 10/07/2022 12:40

"No comment when Max was booed at Silverstone after qualifying silence
"

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5. Posted by Endre, 10/07/2022 12:31

"Let's see; so last year in Silverstone he was celebrating extra hard while Max had to be checked out in hospital as a result of an accident he caused. This year, same place, not only he did not address the booing of the crowd against Max (as Max did in Zandvoort last year) he also had the audacity to make a swipe at Max after the race even though he was at fault in 2021.

People over complicate things in the comments below. it is simple; if you don't want people cheer when you crash, then don't be an ass.

There is a reason why Hamilton is the most hated F1 "World Champion" in history. His attitude, comments and behavior explain all of it."

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6. Posted by Wokingchap, 10/07/2022 11:28

"The booing, for accidents, reflects more on the parhetic unsporting attitudes of the booers...for me and is degrading for the team they support."

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7. Posted by Editor, 10/07/2022 11:03

"@ Spindoctor

You should hear what Christian Sylt has to say on the matter, though sadly it may take a while - but not too long- before he shares his thoughts.

Also, note the strong statement from F1 absolutely nothing is mentioned on the sport's official website, which continues its 'nothing to see here' agenda.

And therein lies the problem."

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8. Posted by Spindoctor, 10/07/2022 10:55

"@editor rightly highlighted some pomposity in a previous comment of mine about "values" & "decency". No matter how poorly expressed, my point remains correct.
The re-appearance of booing & cheering one's unfavourite drivers is both unsporting and unpleasant. It seems to me that it is associated with both an upsurge of nationalistic support for drivers & the influence Formula One as Soap as promulgated by various Media, particularly Netflix & Twitter & of course the British (& probably other nations') Gutter Press.

It seems to me that the nature of F1 has been irrevocably changed by its gradual incorporation into the worlds of Corporate Sponsorship & Marketing. Wolff, Horner, et al (unlike Chapman or Ferrari) report to the "suits" & must "monetise" as much of the operation as possible. In this context the sh*t-stirring is merely a function of the need to garner views, clicks & "likes". Sadly I don't see things improving any time soon."

"It shouldn't have happened," says Hamilton of cheers at his crash

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