Lewis Hamilton calls for change in F1 after Nelson Piquet uses racial slur


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Lewis Hamilton called for “archaic mindsets” to change after three-time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet used a racial slur about him.

Piquet, who won the championship in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used the epithet in a 2021 podcast that became public Monday, and he was instantly criticized by Formula One, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Hamilton’s Mercedes team.

“It’s more than language,” Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and the sport’s only Black driver, tweeted. “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.”

In Portuguese, the winningest driver in Formula One tweeted, “Let’s focus on changing the mind-set.”

Piquet made the comment in Portuguese in November to Motorsport Talk’s Ricardo Oliveira as he discussed a crash from last summer involving Hamilton and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen on the first lap of the 2021 British Grand Prix. The 69-year-old former Brazilian driver called the accident a “joke,” adding that Hamilton was “lucky” only Verstappen crashed.

Piquet’s daughter Kelly is Verstappen’s partner, and Verstappen and Hamilton dueled for the world title throughout last year until a controversial decision in the Abu Dhabi finale gave it to Verstappen. This weekend’s British Grand Prix marks the first anniversary of the drivers’ crash.

“Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society,” Formula One said in a statement. “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 something we are committed to at F1.”

The Mercedes team’s statement condemned “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 track.

“Together, we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motor sport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to strive for a brighter future.”

The FIA, Formula One’s governing body, expressed “solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport.”

Piquet has made controversial statements before, questioning the sexuality of the late Aryton Senna and making offensive comments about Nigel Mansell’s wife. The Guardian reported that Formula One would not allow Piquet access to its races until he apologizes publicly and to Hamilton. Piquet has not yet responded to CNN Brazil’s request for comment.

Hamilton has become more outspoken the last few years about the need in Formula One for greater…



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