Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s time for action over racial slurs
Lewis calls for change in F1 after vile Piquet insult
LEWIS Hamilton says “the time has come for action” after former F1 winner Nelson Piquet used a racist slur while criticising his driving.
The Brazilian, who won the world championship three times in the 80s, twice used a version of the n-word in an interview.
Piquet, 69, slammed Hamilton’s driving at the 2021 British Grand Prix, when his car made contact with that driven by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, 24, on the first lap.
He claimed the Brit was at fault and repeated the offensive Brazilian slang term, saying: “The n ******* put the car in the wrong way.” Verstappen hit the Silverstone barriers at 180mph and was taken to hospital for checks.
The driver is in a relationship with Piquet’s daughter Kelly, 33.
Hamilton went on to win his home race for an eighth time.
The interview for a Brazilian podcast was given last November but a video emerged this week.
Seven-times World Drivers’ Championship winner Sir Lewis, 37, said: “It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.”
An F1 spokesman said: “Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect.
“His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes team said: “We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind.
“Lewis has spearheaded our sport’s efforts to combat
These archaic mindsets need to change LEWIS HAMILTON ON FIGHTING RACISM IN F1
COUPLE racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track.” Teammate George Russell also hit out.
The 24-year-old said: “The fact that he and so many others are still having to deal with this behaviour is unacceptable.”
He added: “We all need to stand together against discrimination.”
Last night it was reported that Piquet could be banned from F1 events, including the paddock, if he did not apologise.