Nelson Piquet says racial slur aimed at Lewis Hamilton had no racist intent

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CN—

Former F1 driver Nelson Piquet has apologized for his racial slur targeting Lewis Hamilton and said his comments had no racist intent.

Piquet used a Brazilian Portuguese racial slur to describe seven-time champion Hamilton during a high-speed collision involving Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the Silverstone Grand Prix last year.

Verstappen is dating Piquets’ daughter, Kelly.

The racist term was used by the three-time F1 world champion in November last year but only recently came to light when the interview was published on Monday.

I would like to clarify the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made during an interview last year, Piquet said in a statement sent to CNN.

What I said was poorly thought out, and I’m not defending it, but I will clarify that the term used is one that has been widely and historically used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for guy or person and has never been intended to offend.

I would never use the word I was accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word has been used by me to demean a driver because of their skin color.

READ: Time for action Teams rally around Hamilton after Piquet hurls racial slurs at F1 driver

I sincerely apologize to everyone affected, including Lewis, who is an amazing driver, but the translation in some media now circulating on social media is not correct.

Discrimination has no place in F1 or in society and I am happy to clarify my thinking in this regard.

On Tuesday, Formula 1, Mercedes and the FIA ​​condemned Piquet for using the racial slur and Hamilton responded to Piquets’ comments in a series of posts on Twitter, writing: Vamos focar em mudar a mentalidade Portuguese for Lets focus on change the mindset.

Hamilton, who has the most race wins in F1 history, said now is the time to act against racism.

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

Piquets’ comments were widely condemned in the sport.

Fellow Briton George Russell has come out in favor of his Mercedes team-mate.

Big respect for LH, he wrote on Twitter. He has done more for the sport than any driver in history, not just on the track but off it.

The fact that he and so many others STILL have to deal with this behavior is unacceptable. We must all stand together against any form of discrimination.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc also responded to Piquets’ comments, posting on Twitter: Knowing Lewis since my arrival in Formula 1, he has always been extremely respectful to me and everyone he meets. These values ​​should be the standard for everyone in the world.

The comments made to Lewis should not be tolerated and we must continue to push for a more diverse and inclusive sport. We must eliminate discriminatory behavior and racist language in all its forms, not only in our sport, but also in our society.

In a hard-hitting post on his Instagram Story, McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo said: Discrimination and racism have no place in this sport or in our society. Those who still choose to spread hate and use these words are not my friends.

I want to thank Lewis and all the work he has done on and off the track to not only spread messages of equality, but to fight this hate.

I’ve never faced racially motivated actions, but he has all his life. Yet each time, his response to hate is driven by maturity, positivity, and educating the world about how we should act. I am with him and will do everything I can to follow him and support him.

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