Nelson Piquet ‘facing F1 ban’ over controversial Lewis Hamilton comments
Nelson Piquet will be banned from the F1 paddock following his controversial comments about Lewis Hamilton, according to reports.
Piquet, a three-time world champion, was accused of aiming a racial slur at Hamilton as he discussed the Briton’s collision with Max Verstappen at last year’s British Grand Prix during an interview in Brazil. However, he has since insisted the term he used was commonplace in Brazil and was not used in a racial context.
The interview in question took place in November but the comments have only recently come to light.
Piquet has been widely condemned while Hamilton, in an apparent response to the Brazilian’s language, tweeted: “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.”
READ MORE: Nelson Piquet says sorry to Lewis Hamilton but insists comment ‘not intended to offend’
“I would like to clear up the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year,” he said. “What I said was ill thought out, and I make no defence for 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 was not intended to offend.
“I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of the colour of his skin. I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.
He concluded: “Discrimination has no place in society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect.”
However, the apology may not be enough for F1, with the BBC’s Andrew Benson reporting that Piquet will not be allowed to enter the paddock in the future.
Benson tweeted: “Sources in F1 have told BBC Sport that Nelson Piquet will not be allowed back into the paddock following this controversy.”
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