Three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet called Lewis Hamilton a “black” in a television interview and unleashed the fury of the Briton, Mercedes and the FIA.
The international motoring federation (FIA) and the Mercedes team of formula 1 have supported the British pilot Lewis Hamilton after he suffered a new ‘racist attack’… this time from another division multi-champion.
The Brazilian Nelson Piquet, three-time world champion in motorsports (1981, 1983 and 1987), made a misplaced comment during a television interview in which he called “little black” to the seven-time world champion of the highest motor category.
Nelson Piquet uses racist term when commenting on Hamilton’s accident with Verstappen; watch https://t.co/VS7hNBCyYU -via @EstadaoEsporte pic.twitter.com/qfPuSnc9mb
— Estadão ????️ (@Estadao) June 27, 2022
The team Mercedes It was not long before he reacted on social networks. “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 racism, and is a true champion of diversity on and off the track,” his team wrote.
“Together, we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underscores the critical importance of continuing to fight for a better future,” the team concluded.
The FIA also expressed itself in the same vein, “strongly condemning any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which has no place in sport or in society in general. We express our solidarity with @Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport”.
“These archaic mentalities must change”
Hamilton also responded to Piquet’s remarks and decided to respond on Social Networks.
“It is more than a language. These archaic mentalities must change and they have no place in our sport.” answered the main driver of Mercedes.
“I have been surrounded by these attitudes all my life. There has been a lot of time to learn. The time for action has come”, added the Briton on his social networks… and in Portuguese.
The Brit also shared a fan’s message expressing “What if Lewis Hamilton just tweeted ‘Who the hell is Nelson Piquet?’
Imagine https://t.co/jzRsAI2uuA
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022
Let’s focus on changing the mindset
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022
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.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022