The Williams driver says he took into account online hate after his crash and therefore removed Twitter and Instagram from his phone for a few days.
“It’s the bitter reality of the world we live in. As an athlete, it’s part and parcel of being thick-skinned, especially if you’re in a position of critical scrutiny. But a lot of the responses I’ve gotten over the past week , went across a border and were very extreme,” said Latifi.
“Sport is competitive by nature, but it should bring people together and not tear them apart. I speak out now and hope it sparks a new discussion about online bullying and the drastic impact it can have on people and elite athletes.”
Team Hamilton backs Latifi
Mercedes, Hamilton’s team, responded to Latifi’s statement via Twitter. “Stay strong, Nicholas Latifi, we are with you in the fight against online hate and abuse,” Mercedes wrote.
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