Nelson Piquet handed huge fine for racist Lewis Hamilton comments

Lewis Hamilton on difficult season for Mercedes in November

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Nelson Piquet has been hit with an eye-watering fine after a Brazilian court ruled that he made racist and homophobic comments towards Lewis Hamilton. The remarks occurred in two separate interviews, with Hamilton striking back last year after the clips went viral.

Piquet, who won three F1 world titles during a distinguished career, referred to Hamilton using a racial slur when asked about his crash with Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix. The Brazilian’s daughter, Kelly, is in a relationship with Verstappen.

Another clip later surfaced from five years prior, showing Piquet using homophobic language when discussing how Hamilton missed out on the 2016 world title to Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

On Friday, a Brazilian court ordered Piquet to pay £781,500 in moral damages for his role in the drama, although the 70-year-old and his legal team could appeal the decision. Judge Pedro Matos de Arrudo said in his decision that he hoped Brazil would ‘someday be free from the pernicious acts that are racism and homophobia’. 

Don’t miss…
F1 LIVE – Hamilton rains on Russell’s parade, Verstappen stings Perez [BLOG]

Hamilton has used his F1 platform in recent years to draw attention towards issues such as racial inequality and human rights. The seven-time world champion is also F1’s only black driver. After the clips surfaced last year, Hamilton said: “I have been on the receiving end of racism and that negative and archaic narratives and undertones of discrimination.

“I am not sure why we are continuing to give these older people a platform. They are speaking on the sport but we are looking to go in a different direction. It’s the bigger picture.

“It is now a knee-jerk reaction from companies all around the world. They probably all already have a script ready for that crisis management. It is not enough. It’s now about action. We need more than ever to be bringing people together. It is not helpful the comments we are seeing from these people. People who are not relevant in the sport for years are trying to bring me down but I am still here.”

At the time, Piquet defended his remarks by claiming that they were lost in translation. “I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations,” he said.

“I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour. 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. Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect.”

Source: Read Full Article