After calling Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll autistic during the live broadcast of the Austrian Grand Prix, a Formula One commentator has been suspended with the video now viral
Last weekend, a surprising statement was made by French-speaking announcer Lionel Froissart on the Belgian channel RTBF Sport.
Lance Stroll Called Autistic By French Commentator Lionel Froissart During Austrian GP 2022, Video Goes Viral
"Lance Stroll, l'autiste."
On est où là ? C'est irrespectueux. Immonde de la part de Lionel Froissart.
Un manque de respect pour les autistes. Un manque de respect pour Lance Stroll.
C'est normal cela @F1 sur votre chaine ?pic.twitter.com/6RV2pHjxrt
— Alexandre Khaldi (@Alex_Racing1) July 10, 2022
Gaetan Vigneron, a co-commentator, subsequently distanced himself from the statement by saying, “That’s too strong. Your actions are excessive.” Froissart answered, “Honest to God, this is the truth.”
Official Statement
And RTBF has now issued a statement denouncing the usage of the word and adamantly promising a thorough investigation into the situation. It was said: “During the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, July 10, RTBF consultant Lionel Froissart used language that is severely condemned.
“Associating autism with a driver’s mode of communication was inappropriate and wholly at odds with RTBF principles.”
Lance Finished at 13th
Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll placed four positions ahead of him in the Austrian Grand Prix standings. In order to close the 38-point gap to Red Bull’s driver, Charles Leclerc defeated world champion Max Verstappen to win the race.
Only Williams driver Nicholas Latifi has scored fewer points from those on the regular grid than Stroll with just three so far this season. To the British F1 team’s detriment, Vettel has already accumulated 15 points for 2022.
The fact that Stroll’s father, Lawrence Stroll, is the team’s owner has added to the criticism of his performances.
More About Lance
Lance Strulovitch, better known by his stage name Lance Stroll, is a Canadian-Belgian racing driver who represents Canada in Formula One. Lance was born on October 29, 1998. He previously drove for Williams and Racing Point before switching to Aston Martin in 2021. He won the Toyota Racing Series title in 2015, the FIA European Formula 3 championship in 2016, and the Italian F4 championship in 2014.
Later on, participated in the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2010 to 2015. His third-place finish at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix made him the youngest driver to ever achieve so during his debut season and the second-youngest overall (and latest as of the end of 2021). Stroll achieved his first Formula One pole position at the Turkish Grand Prix in 2020. Stroll took part in endurance competitions as well, racing in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2016 and 2018.