“Autism Stroll,” Bianca Bustamante caught liking posts calling Lance Stroll autistic on Twitter/X

“Autism Stroll,” Bianca Bustamante caught liking posts calling Lance Stroll autistic on Twitter/X

McLaren F1 junior driver Bianca Bustamante has expressed regret to the racing community for endorsing several posts on X containing ableist remarks directed at Lance Stroll.

Bustamante, formerly with Prema Racing in the F1 Academy series and currently a member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, faced criticism for liking tweets that included offensive comments about Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll.

“Autism Stroll,” McLaren driver Bianca Bustamante caught liking posts calling Lance Stroll autistic on Twitter/X

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Controversy Explained

The controversy arose when a post on X, responding to a TikTok video labeling Bustamante as ‘overrated,’ displayed a screenshot of her with the ‘overrated’ label and featured an inappropriate remark against Lance Stroll.

Although the tweet has since been removed, Bustamante faced backlash from fans, prompting her to issue a formal apology.

Bustamante Admitted Mistake

In her statement, Bustamante admitted to the mistake, acknowledging that she inadvertently liked the inappropriate tweet and promptly unliked it upon realization.

Emphasizing her personal connection to autism through her brother, she vehemently denied supporting ableism and expressed her deep respect for those facing challenges related to autism.

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She extended her apologies to Lance Stroll and anyone offended by the incident, emphasizing the accidental nature of her actions.

Bustamante Facing Criticism

However, not all fans found Bustamante’s explanation satisfactory. Some users on X criticized her for allegedly not unliking the tweet before it was deleted by the original poster, calling her a “shameless liar.” Others urged her not to use her brother’s condition as a shield.

Following her initial apology, the 18-year-old McLaren driver shared a video featuring her autistic brother, offering an additional apology to the autism community.

In the caption, she expressed rare insights into her personal life and conveyed her sincere apologies to the entire autism community. Bianca Bustamante, who participated in 21 races for Prema Racing in the 2023 F1 Academy season, winning two, accumulated 116 points and secured seventh place in the standings.

Earlier in the year, she made history as the first female driver to join the McLaren Driver Development Programme, following in the footsteps of Emma Gilmour, the second female to sign with McLaren.

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