Nelson Piquet – who is the father of Verstappen’s partner, Kelly Piquet – used a racist slur to describe Hamilton in a previously undiscovered interview he gave late last year.
The content of the interview came to light this week and prompted widespread condemnation from the F1 community as most drivers and teams rallied behind Hamilton, as well as leading to Piquet’s expulsion from the paddock.
Piquet issued a statement apologizing to Hamilton but denying that the word he used had racial intent and questioning the translation that had been made.
Speaking on the matter for the first time at Silverstone on Thursday, Verstappen said it was not correct for Piquet to have used the term he used.
“I think the expression that was used, although of course in different kinds of cultures and things that were said when they were little and younger, was not the correct one,” said Max Verstappen.
“Let it serve as a lesson for the future not to use that word, because it is very offensive, and especially now it is gaining more repercussion.”
But Verstappen denied that Piquet was a racist, stating: “I’ve spent some time with Nelson, I think more than most people, and he’s certainly not a racist.”
“He’s actually a very nice, laid-back guy, and I’m pretty sure as well as he points out in the statement he put out, I think you can look at the word two ways. But I think it’s still best not to use it.”
Verstappen said he had not spoken to Piquet about the matter, defending that it was not up to him to discuss it.
“I’m not going to call him and say ‘hey man, that’s not right’. I think he knows that himself,” said the Red Bull Dutchman.
“He already said it in his statement, I think he realized he used the wrong word, so who am I to call him then? I don’t think it changes anything anyway.”
“As he said himself, it can be interpreted in two ways, and of course people take the bad side and take it out of context, because I know Nelson personally.”
“People, of course, are calling him a racist now, and I don’t think he is, but I totally agree that those words shouldn’t be used.”
Asked if he agreed with Piquet being banned from entering the paddock after the incident, Verstappen said he thought it was “better to open a conversation rather than ban”.
“When you ban people, you’re not really even helping the situation, you’re not talking about it,” Verstappen said.
“You have to communicate. Communication is very important, because if you just ban, you’re not helping what you’re trying to impose. You’re trying to educate people. So it’s better to have a chat.”
“These things can be fixed very easily. When you get in a fight with someone and you insult them and you have a good talk and you apologize and this kind of thing, it’s exactly the same. It’s not nice, but things can be easily forgotten.”
“As long as you learn from the mistake you made or the words you used, I don’t think you should be kicked out of the paddock, especially a three-time world champion.”
