Piquet, under the magnifying glass for racist insults against Hamilton 1:02
(Reuters) -
Three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet apologized to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after a video emerged of him using a racial slur in Portuguese when referring to the Mercedes driver.
Piquet, 69, insisted in a statement that the "little thought out" comment he made in November was mistranslated into English.
"The term is widely and historically used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for 'boy' or 'person' and was never intended to offend," he said.
"I would never use the word I am accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of disparaging a driver because of the color of their skin," he added.
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"I sincerely apologize to anyone who has been affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media outlets now circulating on social media is not correct."
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Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and the most successful driver in F1 history, called on Tuesday for action to change "archaic mentalities" after Piquet's comments triggered a media storm and drew widespread condemnation.
F1 sources indicated that Piquet, who rarely attends Grands Prix, would no longer be welcome inside the paddock.
Piquet was commenting on Hamilton's crash at the British Grand Prix with Max Verstappen a year ago, with the Brazilian saying the Briton had "played dirty".
Piquet's daughter Kelly is Verstappen's partner, and the comments resurfaced as the drivers prepare to return to Silverstone.
Lewis Hamilton