Six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton reacted on Tuesday to racist remarks by former Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet concerning him, recalling that "
these archaic mentalities (had to) change
".
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“
These are more than words.
These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport
,” the Briton tweeted.
“
I've been surrounded by behavior like this and targeted my whole life.
There has been time to learn, now is the time for action
,” added the Mercedes team driver, currently 6th in the 2022 World Championship.
In a November 2021 interview, Piquet used the word "
little nigger
" ("
neguinho
" in Brazilian) to refer to Hamilton when discussing an incident involving Briton and Dutchman Max Verstappen in the first round of the Grand Prix de Grande -Britain 2021.
"
The little Negro put his car in and left it because there was no way he could overtake two cars on that corner
," Piquet, a three-time F1 world champion, said in that video interview.
“
He did it to piss her off.
His luck is that only the other (Verstappen) got screwed
,” added Piquet, who is the father of Verstappen's partner and who is one of the supporters of far-right Brazilian head of state Jair Bolsonaro.
Piquet's remarks were condemned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and Formula 1, the organizer of the F1 World Championship.
"
Discriminatory or racist remarks are unacceptable in any form and have no place in society
," reacted Formula 1.
“
Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect
,” Formula 1 said of the seven-time world champion.
"
His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and a commitment on the part of F1
."
For its part, the FIA "
virulently condemns any racist or discriminatory remarks or behavior which has no place in sport or in society
".
"
We stand in solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motorsport
."
“
We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind,
” also reacted the Mercedes team.
"
Lewis has spearheaded our sport's efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off the track
," the statement said.
Hamilton was heavily involved in the "
Black lives matter
" movement in 2020. On his initiative, some drivers knelt down before the races as a sign of support, and the color of Mercedes single-seaters changed from gray to black until at the end of the 2021 season.