Lewis Hamilton wants ‘action’ after Nelson Piquet racial slur

Lewis Hamilton and Formula 1 have condemned former world champion Nelson Piquet for using a racial slur against him in an interview.

Last year, after Hamilton’s controversial victory at the British Grand Prix, the 69-year-old Brazilian used a slur when discussing Hamilton on a podcast. The insult, according to the Guardian, “can be translated as the N-word”. The podcast went public this week.

Piquet is heavily linked with the 2021 British GP controversy. Max Verstappen, who suffered a racing incident with Hamilton that put him in the wall, is dating Piquet’s daughter Kelly.

The seven-time world champion has already been the victim of racial discrimination. Last season, after the British GP, he was the subject of racist abuse online for celebrating his victory.

“It’s more than language,” Hamilton wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. “These archaic mentalities need to change and have no place in our sport. I have been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted all my life. There has been a lot of time to learn. The time has come to act.

He also tweeted in Portuguese “Vamos focar em mudar a mentalidade”, which means “let’s focus on changing the mindset”.

Hamilton team Mercedes released a statement supporting their driver: “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 he is a true champion of diversity on and off the track. Together we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to fight for a better future.

Formula 1 as a whole has come together to defend Hamilton to condemn racism and Piquet himself.

“Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no place in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect,” Formula 1 said in a statement. “His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and we are committed to F1.”

Many F1 teams and drivers showed their support on Twitter for the Mercedes driver, including teammate George Russell, Ferrari, Aston Martin and others.