Max Verstappen has urged F1 fans to stop reacting like football supporters as the grid gets set for the France Grand Prix this weekend.
Motorsport has been marred by a series of hostile atmospheres in recent weeks and Verstappen was booed at Silverstone last month.
Hamilton and Verstappen were embroiled in a fierce rivalry last season
The Orange Army reacted by celebrating as Lewis Hamilton crashed during qualifying at the Red Bull Ring last time out in Austria.
But Verstappen implored fans in attendance to stop allowing the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes to spill over in the crowds.
“First of all, in every country, the fans in the grandstand decide the atmosphere,” Verstappen told F1-Insider.
“Those are the fans we consciously perceive, very loudly. I think on other parts of the track there is always a healthy mix between the individual fan groups.
“Basically, I think it’s a shame that the fans actually react like football fans. They always boo at the opponent.
“In the Netherlands they boo Lewis, in England me. I think it’s a pity because we often fight extremely tough, high-quality fights. You have to respect your opponent.
“I am a PSV fan. But when I watch a great football match, I enjoy it, whether my team wins or loses.
“It would be nice if fan behaviour in our sport was the same. And that, despite all the rivalry, opponents are also treated with respect.”
After several partisan crowds in Britain and then Austria, Verstappen may get his wish as the grid makes the trip to neutral France.
Hamilton and Verstappen have both received some rough fan treatmentGetty
France Grand Prix: Date and UK start time
The race weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard is scheduled for Friday, July 22 to Sunday, July 24.
There will be two practices on Friday with the first starting from 1pm UK time with the third session an hour before on the Saturday.
Qualifying will take place at 3pm while the race itself will get underway at 2pm UK time on the Sunday.
France Grand Prix: TV channel and live stream
Coverage will again be on Sky Sports F1 throughout the weekend. Their coverage of Sunday’s race build-up begins at 12:30pm.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
If not, you can purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £9.99 while Channel Four will broadcast highlights later in the evening.
talkSPORT will have all of the best of the action throughout the week while talkSPORT.com will have a live blog for the race.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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France Grand Prix: What has been said?
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expects Mercedes to challenge his team and Ferrari in Le Castellet.
“We’d expect them to be quick in [Paul] Ricard,” said Horner. “They’re showing flashes of being there or thereabouts.
“The last two races have been pretty decent for them. There’s been no sign, I think, of any porpoising at all.
“So they seem to be slowly bringing themselves back into the game.”
Formula 1 2022: Driver Standings
Driver / Car / Points
- Max Verstappen / Red Bull Racing / 208
- Charles Leclerc / Ferrari / 170
- Sergio Perez / Red Bull Racing / 151
- Carlos Sainz / Ferrari / 133
- George Russell / Mercedes / 128
- Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes / 109
- Lando Norris / McLaren / 64
- Esteban Ocon / Alpine / 52
- Valtteri Bottas / Alfa Romeo / 46
- Fernando Alonso / Alpine / 29
- Kevin Magnussen / Haas / 22
- Daniel Ricciardo / McLaren / 17
- Pierre Gasly / Alphatauri / 16
- Sebastian Vettel / Aston Martin / 15
- Mick Schumacher / Haas / 12
- Yuki Tsounda / Alphatauri / 11
- Zhou Guanyu / Alfa Romeo / 5
- Alexander Albon / Williams / 3
- Lance Stroll / Aston Martin / 3
- Nicholas Latifi / Williams / 0
- Nico Hulkenberg / Aston Martin / 0
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