Ex-Formula 1 world champion insults Lewis Hamilton racist - Brit reacts: "archaic ways of thinking"

Created: 06/28/2022, 14:54

By: Antonio Jose Riether

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet triggered a wave of indignation with potentially racist statements against Lewis Hamilton.

London – On Tuesday afternoon, Formula 1 published a statement in which the racing series spoke out against any form of discrimination and racism.

Although those responsible refrained from putting the message in context, it did not come out of nowhere.

The statement was triggered by a statement by three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet, the Brazilian had probably made racist comments about record title holder Lewis Hamilton.

Three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet causes a stir with a derogatory term

The statements are excerpts from a Brazilian podcast from last November.

The 69-year-old actually spoke about the accident between Hamilton and his challenger Max Verstappen at Silverstone in July, in which the Brit had gained an advantage in the meantime.

"The 'Neguinho' parked the car and left," said Piquet casually and without naming Hamilton - now this sentence falls at his feet.

The diminutive form of the Brazilian-Portuguese word for "negro", i.e. the actual term for "black man", translates roughly in the direction of the German "Negerlein".

However, since the word can also be used without racial connotations in Brazilian, this is not comparable to the actual expression of the N-word.

In the context, however, the statement can certainly be understood as derogatory.

Formula 1, FIA and Mercedes position themselves against racism - consequences for Piquet?

The clip was now circulating again on the internet, and it was shared en masse on Twitter in particular.

Criticism was therefore not long in coming, Formula 1, racing teams such as Hamilton's Mercedes team and even the automobile association FIA were forced to publish statements.

Nelson Piquet caused trouble with his statements.

© Janos Marjai/dpa

“Discriminatory or racist language in any form is unacceptable and has no part in society.

Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect,” wrote those in charge of the racing series.

Hamilton's "tireless commitment to diversity and inclusion" is "a lesson to many and something that we are committed to in Formula 1".

“We express our solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motorsport,” the FIA ​​statement said.

also read

Now Djokovic is threatened with new corona chaos in Wimbledon despite participating

Matteo Berrettini: girlfriend, wife, children, family?

Here's what we know about the Italian tennis ace

Lewis Hamilton Responds to Calling Piquet's Statement "Archaic Mindset"

It is still unclear whether there will be consequences for Piquet in addition to the statements.

The ex-racer has not yet commented on the verbal derailment.

Hamilton took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon, writing: "It's more than language.

These archaic ways of thinking need to change and have no place in our sport.

I've been surrounded by and aimed at these attitudes my entire life.

There was a lot of time to study.

The time to act has come."

(ajr)