Ricciardo takes F1 'idiots' to task for social media focus on crashes

Daniel Ricciardo isn't happy with the exposure given by Formula 1 on social media to crashes, calling those who handle the sport's online content "fucking idiots".

Ricciardo took F1 to task in an interview with Square Mile in which he admitted to being troubled by the omnipresence of crash footage on the sport's website or online channels.

"I think last year, F1 put on their social channels, like, ‘top 10 moments of the year’ or something, and eight of the ten were crashes," he said.

"I was just like, you guys are fucking idiots.

"Maybe 12-year-old kids want to see that kind of content, and that’s cool because they don’t know any better, but we’re not kids.

"Just do better, guys. Do better than that."

Ricciardo's comments follow his criticism last year of how F1's broadcast team handled Romain Grosjean's fiery crash at the Bahrain GP, when the then Renault driver expressed his "disgust and disappointment" with the endless replays of Grosjean's ordeal that were aired during the race's red flag period.

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"The way the incident of Grosjean was broadcast over and over, the replays over and over, it was completely disrespectful and inconsiderate for his family, for all of our families watching," Ricciardo told Dutch channel Ziggo TV.

"We're going to go race again in an hour and every time we look on the TV it's a ball of fire and his car's cut in half. I mean we can see that tomorrow, we don't need to see it today.

"For me, it was entertainment and they're playing with all of our emotions and I thought it was pretty disgusting."

At the time, Formula 1 responded to the Aussie's criticism, insisting its coverage had followed stringent procedures and was only initiated once it was clear that there had been no serious injuries suffered at the scene of the crash.

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