Piquet banned from paddock despite apology
Brazilian claims Hamilton comments were mistranslated Fellow Briton Norris reveals he has received death threats
Nelson Piquet, the three-time world champion, is to be barred from the Formula One paddock after his apology to Lewis Hamilton for using a derogatory term failed to persuade bosses to spare him a ban.
Piquet had been under pressure to contact Hamilton directly to say sorry, but, in a statement yesterday, the 69-year-old claimed his comments were mistranslated.
Having digested the Brazilian’s statement, racing chiefs are understood to have reached the conclusion that he should have his racing access privileges taken away.
Piquet sought to clear up his podcast outburst in November 2021, when he twice used the Portuguese phrase “neguinho” while discussing Hamilton.
“The term used is one that has widely and historically been used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend,” a statement read. “I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations.
“I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour. I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating is not correct.”
Piquet, who won the world title in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used the term
while referring to the seven-time champion’s tussles with Max Verstappen. He had been asked about Hamilton claiming victory at Silverstone after tangling with Verstappen on the opening lap, leading to the Dutchman crashing into the barriers and being taken to hospital.
In footage shared by Brazilian publication Estadao, Piquet, whose daughter Kelly is Verstappen’s girlfriend, said: “The neguinho put the car in the wrong way and didn’t let [the other driver swerve].”
Hamilton posted his own thoughts on the issue. “Let’s focus on changing the mindset,” he wrote in Portuguese on Twitter.
The sport had rallied behind
Hamilton over the comments, although F1 failed to mention Piquet by name. It described Hamilton as an “incredible ambassador” who had made “tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion”.
Meanwhile, fellow Briton Lando Norris has revealed he has been subjected to death threats – and described social media abuse aimed at his model girlfriend Luisinha Oliveira as “horrific”.
The 22-year-old Mclaren driver said: “I get death threats every now and then. Not enough gets done and it is tough. The amount of hate pages on social media dedicated to Luisinha now is pretty horrific. It is not an easy thing for her.”