Formula 1 rallies behind Hamilton over racist abuse
MERCEDES, FORMULA 1 and its governing body the FIA have issued a joint statement condemning the online racist abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton, 36, was targeted following his crash with rival Max Verstappen on the opening lap of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion was handed a 10- second penalty but delivered a super comeback drive to record his eighth win on home soil, while Verstappen was taken to hospital following the 190mph shunt.
Red Bull said he was released from hospital at 10pm on Sunday night “without major injuries”.
The statement read: “During, and after, yesterday’s British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was subjected to multiple instances of racist abuse on social media following an in-race collision.
“Formula One, the FIA and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
“These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions. Formula One, the FIA, the drivers and the teams are working to build a more diverse and inclusive sport, and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated.”
Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty for the accident with Verstappen after the stewards adjudged him to be “predominantly at fault”.
The abuse came from a number of countries and started during Sunday’s race in response to posts from both F1 and Mercedes’
social media platforms. It is understood that F1 is compiling a dossier of the offensive posts and will raise them directly with the platforms and call on them to take stringent action.
Red Bull, meanwhile, are considering a protest against Hamilton’s punishment at Silverstone.
Mercedes are now just three points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
Last night, it was understood Red Bull were reviewing whether to lodge an appeal against the stewards’ verdict, which they believe to be too lenient. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: “There are rights that are available to us.
“We will look at it and talk it through.”
Verstappen’s father Jos, who competed in 106 races and was a former team-mate to Michael Schumacher, said Hamilton should have been disqualified.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Verstappen Snr, 49, who travelled with his son to hospital, said: “It is really unacceptable what Hamilton did.”