Hamilton, F1 condemn Nelson Piquet's racial slur about British driver

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and Formula One on Tuesday condemned former world champion Nelson Piquet's racially offensive term against the British driver in Portuguese.

"It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport," Hamilton, 37, said on Twitter, adding "Time has come for action."

Formula One backed Hamilton as discriminatory and racist expressions are "unacceptable," and this type of language "has no part in society."

"Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect," the F1 added.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton's team Mercedes on Twitter also condemned the 69-year-old's racist language.

The Brazilian national, who won the F1 titles in 1981,1983 and 1987, used an offensive term to refer to Hamilton on a podcast, where he discussed a collision between the British racer and his rival, Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen, on the first lap of the 2021 British Grand Prix.

Piquet reportedly used a Portuguese version of the N-word to refer to Hamilton.

Formula 1 will return to the UK this weekend as the 2022 British Grand Prix will be held at the Silverstone Circuit on Sunday.