- Former world champion used derogatory term in Portuguese
- Mercedes: ‘Lewis is a true champion of diversity on and off track’
Formula One and the Mercedes team have condemned the three-time world champion Nelson Piquet for using racist language when speaking about Lewis Hamilton. Piquet used the term in an interview that was conducted last year but which was released publicly on Monday night. F1 has a commitment to oppose racism and encourage diversity in the sport.
Piquet was speaking in November to Motorsport Talk’s Ricardo Oliveira in Portuguese about Hamilton’s clash with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix in 2021, which ended with the Dutch driver going off the track and suffering a major impact with the barriers.