This week, comments by Nelson Piquet , three times F1 world champion, made in an interview last year came to light, among which he used a racist slur against Lewis Hamilton talking about the accident with Max Verstappen at Silverstone.
That drew widespread condemnation from the Formula 1 community, including a retort from both F1 and the FIA, but also from the Mercedes driver himself. Furthermore, Motorsport.com has learned that Nelson Piquet will not be allowed into the paddock from now on.
Hamilton, seven times world champion in the category, used his social networks to affirm that it was “time to change” to modify “archaic mentalities”.
Nelson Piquet has now issued a statement saying he wants to “clear up the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year”.
Although the three-time Formula 1 champion admitted that what he said “was not well thought out, and I do not make any defense of it”, and stated that the term he used “is one that has been widely and historically used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend.”
“I would never use the word that I have been accused of in some translations,” Piquet said.
“I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me for the purpose of disparaging a driver because of the color of his skin.”
“I sincerely apologize to anyone who was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver.”
“But the translation in some media that is now circulating on social networks is not correct.”
“Discrimination has no place in F1 or in society and I am pleased to clarify my thoughts on this.”
Despite Piquet’s claim, native speakers of the Brazilian edition of Motorsport.com confirmed that the word he used is derogatory and has a racial meaning.
Piquet won F1 titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, but was also known for his offensive language towards other drivers.
1996 world champion Damon Hill told Motorsport.com on Wednesday that Piquet was “a hard thing to like, and I never really got around to it.” In addition, he considers that his last comments had gone “beyond the limits”.
Nelson Piquet’s full statement on racism
“I would like to clear up the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year.”
“What I said I did not think it through, and I do not defend 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 ‘boy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend. “.
“I would never use the word that I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me for the purpose of disparaging a driver because of the color of their skin.”
“I sincerely apologize to everyone who 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 in society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts on this.
