F1 Broadcaster Apologizes for Offensive Gabriel Bortoleto Family Comment

Austrian F1 broadcaster ORF has issued a formal apology after former Toro Rosso and AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost made an offensive comment regarding Gabriel Bortoleto's family during the Brazilian Grand Prix. The incident occurred after Bortoleto's early exit from the race.

Why it matters:

• The comment highlights the scrutiny and pressure placed on young drivers and their families in Formula 1, even in moments of disappointment.
• It underscores the responsibility of broadcasters and commentators to maintain professionalism and respect, even in the heat of live commentary.
• The swift apology from ORF demonstrates an acknowledgment of the inappropriate nature of the remark and a commitment to address such incidents.

The details:

• During the Brazilian Grand Prix, rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto was eliminated on the opening lap after contact with Lance Stroll's Aston Martin.
• The world feed broadcast showed Bortoleto's family, including his mother, in the Stake garage looking visibly upset after his crash.
• On ORF's live broadcast, commentator Franz Tost remarked: "He's in the learning phase. The mums don't need to look so stupid, it's completely normal."
• Following immediate backlash from viewers and the F1 community, ORF issued an apology.
• The apology stated, "During the co-commentary of the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix, in the hectic start phase, when Gabriel Bortoleto's mother and family were visible in the live broadcast after his crash, an unacceptable statement was unfortunately made, for which we sincerely apologise."
• ORF further committed to taking "appropriate precautions to ensure that such an incident does not happen again."

The big picture:

• This incident is a stark reminder that even seasoned figures within F1 need to be mindful of their language and its impact, especially when comments are directed at individuals or families.
• It also brings to light the emotional investment of family members in a driver's career, and the insensitivity of dismissing their reactions.

What's next:

• ORF has stated it will take precautions to prevent similar incidents. This could include reviewing commentary guidelines or providing further training for their on-air talent.
• The F1 community will likely monitor how such situations are handled in the future, maintaining pressure for respectful and professional broadcasting standards.