It’s been reported that the individual who attacked two Ferrari fans during Sunday’s Mexican Grand Prix has been ‘banned for life’, following their unacceptable actions.
When exactly the incident in the stadium section at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez took place is still yet to be confirmed; however, it’s rumoured that it happened following Sergio Perez’s retirement from the race.
The home hero was forced to retire at the end of the opening lap after colliding with Charles Leclerc at the first corner.
Perez’s start from P5 was exceptional and allowed him to try and attack for the race lead into the first corner, something Max Verstappen was also attempting.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Perez was on the outside of the corner whilst Verstappen was on the inside, with Leclerc having been sandwiched in the middle.
There simply wasn’t enough room for the trio, as proven by Leclerc and Perez colliding.
The collision forced Perez into the runoff area at the first corner, where the floor of his car sustained extensive damage.
It was no surprise to see him peel into the pits at the end of the opening lap to retire, neither was some fans leaving the Grand Prix shortly after.
Leclerc managed to finish the race without a left front-wing endplate and even salvaged a podium, much to the disappointing of Perez’s supporters.
The Ferrari driver was on the receiving end of boos and jeers whilst giving his post-race interview, where he pleaded to the Mexican supporters that he “had nowhere to go”.
“A lot of booing,” Leclerc said in his post-race interview. “Guys, I had nowhere to go. I was a bit in between the Red Bulls and unfortunately I touched Sergio.
“It’s life. I damaged my car and unfortunately it ended the race of Sergio. Of course, I’m disappointed to end the race of Sergio like that but I really didn’t do it on purpose and I had nowhere to go.”
The opening lap collision left fans in disbelief and seemingly anger, with one fan having thrown punches at two Ferrari supporters.
READ: Daniel Ricciardo insists things ‘would be different’ if he returned to Red Bull
Clips of the shocking attack were posted onto social media, which also showed the instigator being pulled away by other fans.
The attacker was booed and jeered by fans in the stadium section, who were seemingly shocked by what they were seeing.
According to F1 journalist Chris Medland, the individual has been banned from ever attending a Grand Prix again.