Liam Lawson has spoken out about the toxic reality of modern Formula 1 fandom, revealing he was forced to mute all F1-related social media accounts after being targeted with horrific online abuse.
What happened?
The New Zealander replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls following the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Why it matters for Liam Lawson
Lawson detailed how the dark side of social media quickly overshadowed his racing ambitions, prompting him to take drastic measures to protect his mental health.
He said: "It's happened so much now, especially with all that's happened over the last 12 months, that you just honestly start to ignore it because there are so many opinions and rumours and things that go around that are just so untrue and if you really focus on every single one, it would drive you crazy."
What comes next?
Lawson added that muting his social media accounts made a big difference, allowing him to focus on his racing career without the distraction of online abuse.
He explained that he had people telling him about things he hadn't seen online, and that he was grateful for the decision to remove social media from his life.
Lawson's on-track clash with Sergio Perez at the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix was the catalyst for him to delete his social media apps.
He received both public comments and direct messages, which prompted him to take action to protect his mental health.
The incident occurred after he replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls, and later signed with Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez in 2025.
Lawson found himself demoted back to Racing Bulls and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after only two races with the Milton Keynes outfit.
He appeared on the *High Performance* podcast, where he shared his experience with online abuse and how it affected his mental health.
Lawson's decision to mute his social media accounts has allowed him to focus on his racing career, and he is grateful for the positive impact it has had on his life.
He will continue to compete in the Formula 1 championship, and his fans will be watching his progress closely.
The incident has highlighted the need for greater awareness and action to be taken to prevent online abuse in the sports world.
Lawson's experience is a reminder that athletes are not immune to the negative effects of social media, and that they need to take steps to protect their mental health.
The Formula 1 community has come out in support of Lawson, condemning the online abuse he has suffered and praising his decision to speak out.
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater respect and kindness in the sports world, both online and offline.
Lawson's bravery in sharing his experience has helped to raise awareness of the issue, and his fans will be hoping that it will lead to positive change in the future.