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McLaren Boss Backs Daniel Ricciardo After His Controversial ‘F**king Idiots’ Remark at F1’s Social Media

Social media is a very powerful yet sensitive tool in modern times. One needs to take responsibility for their actions on this medium. Very recently, F1’s handling of it did not please Daniel Ricciardo, who not afraid to criticize them. While it received a divided response, McLaren is firmly behind their driver.

Two weeks ago, Ricciardo labeled the social media handlers of the sport as ‘F**king idiots’ for glorifying the crashes on their channel. Drivers risk their lives out on the track, and Daniel felt that element was being taken lightly.

McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo taking the knee ahead of Bahrain GP
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 28, 2021 McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo kneels in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign on the grid before the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Although some believe that it is important for young fans to know more about the dangers of the sport this way, McLaren Team Principal, Andreas Seidl, wants F1 to put more positive content out on their social media handles.

“Our sport is one of the most exciting sports in the world, with on and off-track moments. While the danger of sport may appeal to some fans, I agree with Daniel that there is a bigger and positive story about sport to be told, F1 does that as well,” said Seidl. (Quotes translated from Turkish using Google)

Seidl does not agree with the language of Daniel Ricciardo

It was not the Australian’s criticism that attracted so much media attention, per se. It was the manner in which he expressed it that also had a few fans come down hard on him. On this Siedl said, “However, as Ricciardo said at the Imola press conference, I don’t think he’s using the right language.”

The former Red Bull driver apologized for his ‘aggressive’ remarks right after in Imola. But he still does not want the sport to glorify the crashes, and rightly so.

McLaren boss lauds the effect of social media on F1

Though it is hard to ignore the impact that social media has had on the sport in general. Together with Netflix, it has paved the way for it to reach a larger audience in countries like the US. Seidl acknowledges that aspect of it –

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“If you look at the numbers, they have contributed to very rapid growth in recent years. At the same time, they attracted a lot of new viewers to the sport. We think Formula 1’s social media team did a great job promoting our sport and it still continues to do so.”

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton celebrates his win with fans after the race at British Grand Prix 2017
FILE PHOTO: F1 – Formula One – British Grand Prix 2017 – Silverstone, Britain – July 16, 2017 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates his win with fans after the race REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo

Let’s hope that the popularity of the sport continues to grow, but not by glorifying such crashes in abundance. There has to be a balance and F1 needs to be more careful on how it wants to market the sport.

The post McLaren Boss Backs Daniel Ricciardo After His Controversial ‘F**king Idiots’ Remark at F1’s Social Media appeared first on EssentiallySports.