Lewis Hamilton gets nostalgic about his childhood video game 0:32
(CNN) --
Formula 1, Mercedes and the FIA have convicted former F1 driver Nelson Piquet of using a racial slur against Britain's Lewis Hamilton.
Piquet used a racial slur in Brazilian Portuguese to describe seven-time champion Hamilton, referring to a high-speed collision involving Hamilton and Max Verstappen during last year's Silverstone Grand Prix.
Verstappen is in a relationship with Piquet's daughter, Kelly.
The racist term was used by the three-time F1 world champion in November last year, but came to light recently, when the interview was published on Monday.
Hamilton "got the car in and left it there because there was no way two cars could go through that corner. He made a dirty move. Lucky for him, only the other driver [Verstappen] got screwed," Piquet said in an interview in Portuguese. with the Motorsports Talk channel.
On Tuesday, Hamilton responded to Piquet's comments in a series of messages on Twitter, writing "Vamos focar em mudar a mentalidade" (Portuguese for "Let's focus on changing mindsets").
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Hamilton, the winningest driver in F1 history, said "the time has come to act" against racism.
"It's more than language. These are archaic mindsets [that] need to change and have no place in our sport," Hamilton said on Twitter.
"I have been surrounded by these attitudes and directed all my life. There has been a lot of time to learn. The time has come to act."
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
Piquet's comments have been widely condemned in the sport.
"Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no place in society," F1 said in a statement on Twitter.
"Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and he deserves respect.
"His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to in F1."
Hamilton's Mercedes team also condemned the comments.
"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," the team said. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 in a statement.
Piquet's comments have been widely condemned.
"Together, we share a vision of a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underscores the critical importance of continuing to fight for a better future."
Meanwhile, motorsport's governing body, the FIA, outlined its support for Hamilton's "commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motorsport".
"The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which has no place in sport or in society at large," he added.
Lewis Hamilton
