The British Lewis Hamilton, once again at the center of the scene for an extra-sports episode. Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images / AFP.
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton reacted on Tuesday to racist statements former Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet made about him, reminding that “those archaic attitudes must change”.
“They are more than words. Those archaic attitudes must change and they have no place in our sport, “tweeted the Brit.
“I have been surrounded by such behavior and have been a target all my life. There was time to learn, now is the time to act“added the Mercedes team driver, currently 6th in the 2022 championship.
File photo showing Lewis Hamilton with Nelson Piquet (right) and another former French driver, Jean Alesi (center). Photo: JOE KLAMAR / AFP.
In a video interview granted to Motorsports.com. In October 2021, Piquet, 69, recalled the accident he faced in July 2021 in the first lap of the British GP against Hamilton and the Dutchman Max Verstappen, which ended with the departure of the Red Bull driver, whose companion is a daughter of Piquet, Kelly.
“Black (Lewis Hamilton) put the car and left it because he had no way of overcoming two cars on that curve. He played dirty. His luck was that only the other one (Verstappen) got screwed, “Piquet said.
Piquet’s statements were condemned by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and by Formula 1, organizer of the F1 World Championship.
F1 in solidarity with Hamilton
“Discriminatory or racist statements are unacceptable in any form and have no place in society,” reacted Formula 1 in a statement sent to the AFP.
“Lewis is an incredible ambassador of our sport and deserves respect,” estimates the seven-time F1 champion’s Formula 1 champion. “His tireless efforts to improve diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and a commitment from F1.”
“The FIA strongly condemns any racist language and behavior, which has no place in our sport or our society,” the institution said on Twitter. “We express our solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and our full support for his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motorsport,” added the FIA.
Mercedes, the British team, also reacted on Twitter: “We strongly condemn any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind.”
Lewis has been at the forefront of our sport’s efforts to combat racism and is a true champion of diversity, on and off the track.
Hamilton was heavily involved in the “Black Lives Matter” movement in 2020. Thanks to his initiative, several drivers posed with one knee on the ground before several races in support and the color of the Mercedes cars changed from gray to black until the end. of the 2021 season.
“Together we share the vision of a diverse and inclusive motor sport and this incident signals the paramount importance of continuing to fight for a better future,” says the Hamilton team since 2013.
Hamilton will compete again next weekend at the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit.
Piquet was a three-time Formula 1 world champion (1981, 1983 and 1987).
This incident occurs on the same day that Red Bull reserve driver Juri Vips was fired from his team after using racist language during an online game of a video game.
The 21-year-old Estonian driver, who competed in the Formula 2 Series, was already provisionally suspended on 21 June. “The team does not accept any form of racism,” explained Red Bull, despite last week the Vips apologized for using “unacceptable” language.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin