McLaren F1 junior apologises for liking anti-Stroll ableist tweet

McLaren Formula 1 junior driver Bianca Bustamante has apologised for liking an ableist post on social media, directed at Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll.

The post in question was posted to X - formerly known as Twitter - and called F1 Academy racer Bustamante 'over-rated' with a caption that aimed an ableist slur against Stroll.

It has since been deleted after the like was discovered, leading to a social media backlash against the 18-year-old, who joined McLaren's academy earlier this year.

Bustamante has since offered an apology for her actions on her X account.

"I truly deeply apologise," she wrote.

"I own up to my mistakes having liked an inappropriate tweet. I can't believe all the people whom I have hurt. I was scrolling and I accidentally liked the tweet, once I discovered that later on, I immediately unliked it.

"As someone who grew up with my only brother having Autism, I completely understand the challenges faced by anyone with autism.

"I would never in a million years support ableism at any level, let alone support an Ableist tweet against a fellow driver.

"I take the topic of Autism very seriously and very personal [sic].

"To Lance Stroll, any anyone that this has offended, I sincerely apologise as these types of comments is something I do not support.

"I hope the racing community understands this is 100% an accident, my sincerest apologies for this big mistake."

Bustamante then uploaded a video of her and her brother to her 57,000 X and 1.1 million Instagram followers.