Lewis Hamilton: Nelson Piquet condemned for racist slur about Mercedes F1 driver

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Formula 1 and Mercedes have condemned racist language used by three-time world champion Nelson Piquet to describe Lewis Hamilton.

The interview, which took place in Portuguese back in November, discusses Hamiltons win at last years British Grand Prix, when the seven-time champion collided with then-Championship leader Max Verstappen on the opening lap.

The Dutchman spun out and crashed into the barrier, causing uproar at Red Bull as Hamilton sprung back into the Championship race.

Yet Piquet, 69, believed Hamilton crashed into Verstappen on purpose and twice used the term neguinho to describe the Mercedes star.

The neguinho put the car in the wrong way and didnt let [the other driver swerve]he told Brazilian publication Estadao in a video that was released on Monday.

The neguinho put the car in the wrong way on the corner, its because you dont know the curve. Its a very high curve, there is no way to pass two cars and theres no way you can put the car aside. He did [Verstappen] dirty. His luck was that only the other one was gone.

Stakes comments have resurfaced

(Darren Heath/Getty Images)

Formula 1 came out on Tuesday morning in response to the resurfacing of the interview, saying in a statement: Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect.

(Hamiltons) tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1.

Hamiltons team, constructors champions Mercedes, also released a statement, condemning the language and labeling Hamilton a true champion of diversity on and off track.

It read: We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind. Lewis has spearheaded our sports 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 motorsport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to live for a brighter future.

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