"Completely inappropriate"

Saying by co-commentator: ORF apologizes

Franz Tost was the ORF co-commentator at the Brazilian GP.(Bild: GEPA)

Former racing driver and team boss Franz Tost caused a stir with a comment live on TV at the Formula 1 race in Brazil on Sunday. Now ORF has apologized: "The language and choice of words were completely inappropriate."

What happened? Local hero Gabriel Bortoleto had a weekend to forget in Sao Paulo. After the accident in the sprint, the Sauber driver's main race was also over on Sunday after a contact with Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) after less than a lap.

Shortly after the end, the disappointed family of the Formula 1 driver was shown by the TV director. Legend Franz Tost, who was on duty as co-commentator for ORF together with Ernst Hausleitner, then made the following statement: "He's in the learning phase. The moms don't need to look so stupid, it's completely normal."

Franz Tost was the ORF co-commentator at the Brazilian GP.(Bild: GEPA)

Here is Tost's comment in the video:

"Unacceptable statement"
Too much of a good thing for ORF! They have now apologized to viewers in a statement.

"In the co-commentary of the Formula 1 GP in Brazil, during the hectic start phase, when Gabriel Bortoleto's mother and family were seen in the picture after a crash, an unacceptable statement was unfortunately made, for which we would like to apologize most sincerely," the broadcaster said. "ORF Sport will take appropriate precautions to ensure that this does not happen again."