An interview with Nelson Piquet unearthed by Enerto, a Brazilian motorsports channel, has the F1 world in embarrassment. The interview, given to CNN Brasil, dates from November 2021. As he reflected on an incident involving Lewis Hamilton and his rival, Dutchman Max Verstappen, in the first round of the 2021 British Grand Prix, the former glory of F1 used the word “neguinho” (“little black” in Brazilian) to refer to Hamilton: “The little black guy put his car in and left it because there was no way he could pass two cars on that corner. He did it to piss her off. His luck is that only the other (Verstappen) got screwed”precisely declares the triple world champion of the discipline.
“These are more than words. These archaic mentalities must change and have no place in our sporttweeted this Tuesday Hamilton, currently 6th in the 2022 World Championship. Behaviors like this have surrounded and targeted me all my life. There was time to learn, now is the time for action.”
It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022
Support from Bolsonaro
The words of Piquet, also the father of Verstappen’s companion and open support for Jair Bolsonaro, – he drove the far-right head of state aboard a Rolls Royce through the streets of Brasilia in September 2021 – been condemned by a good part of the community. “Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no place in society.reacted in particular Formula 1, the organizer of the F1 World Championship. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect. His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and a commitment from F1.”says Formula 1 about the seven-time world champion.
For its part, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) also expressed its “solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and (fully supports) his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motorsport”while his Mercedes team recalls its status as “spearheads (our) sport’s efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off the tracks”.
Unfeigned references to the long-standing commitment of the Briton, who was heavily involved in the “Black lives matter” movement in 2020. On his initiative, some pilots knelt down before the races as a sign of support, and the color of Mercedes single-seaters changed from gray to black until the end of the 2021 season. Two years ago, Hamilton had no hesitation in attacking former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. The latter had notably affirmed during an interview with CNN that “in many cases, black people are more racist” than the Whites.