Piquet earlier apologised to Hamilton for using a racial slur
Nelson Piquet used homophobic language against Lewis Hamilton, a new report has claimed.
An interview with Piquet on a Brazilian podcast from last year surfaced this week, in which he twice used a racially offensive expression when referring to Hamilton.
On Friday, Sky News said further footage had emerged of the three-time former world champion making more offensive comments about the Mercedes driver. Piquet is said to have made the offensive remark when describing how Hamilton missed out on the 2016 championship to Nico Rosberg.
The broadcaster reported that Piquet said of Hamilton: “The [racist term] must have been [homophobic slur] at the time. He was pretty bad.”
The development comes just days after Piquet apologised “wholeheartedly” apologised to Hamilton for using a racial slur. He was said to have used language that’s equivalent to or similar to the N-word while discussing a collision between Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Piquet said he “strongly condemned” any suggestion his remarks were intentionally racist.
Hamilton, 37, later posted a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, insisting that “these archaic minds need to change.”
He said: “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.”
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
His remarks were supported by F1, who said 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.”
It continued: “His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1.”
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2022
Related links:
- Nelson Piquet apologises to Lewis Hamilton for racial slur
- Lewis Hamilton slams ‘archaic mindsets’ following Nelson Piquet’s racially abusive remarks
- Lewis Hamilton: F1 condemns Nelson Piquet’s racially abusive language about driver
- Formula One ‘hopeful’ of adding South Africa to race calendar
