Just a few days before the start of the 2022 Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the paddock was filled with controversy due to statements by three-time champion Nelson Piquet about Lewis Hamilton, whom he referred to with a racist comment, causing the reaction of the category itself and the FIA through a statement.
Despite the fact that they were statements that dated back months, in the midst of the fight between the Briton and his son-in-law, Max Verstappen, the Brazilian clarified that he did not do so with racial overtones, and many accused local fans of taking out highlight the statements to avoid remembering the clash between the two drivers at Silverstone in 2021.
In last season’s British Grand Prix race, the two drivers had a side-by-side battle on the first lap until they reached Copse corner, where they touched and the Dutchman ended up against the guards in an accident more than 300km/h Hamilton, for his part, only received a 10-second stop & go penalty, which he was able to serve after the red flag and recover positions to achieve his eighth victory at Silverstone.
A year later, in the classification of the same event, Max Verstappen, who continues to dominate the top positions and is immersed in a fight for the title with his partner, Sergio Pérez, and the two Ferraris, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, received boos from the stands, full of English fans and Lewis Hamilton. The mass of followers of the seven-time world champion supported their idol at home, although with gestures that the Mercedes driver did not like, such as cheers when Verstappen spun in his attempt to qualify .
“I think we are better than that,” said the Englishman. “I would say there is no need to boo, we have such great and sporting fans, who feel emotions, with ups and downs, but I don’t agree with booing.”
“I don’t think we have to do it, we should be here celebrating. There’s also no difference when someone is booed, they’ve made mistakes or whatever,” Hamilton insisted in reference to the touch between the two in 2021 . “I appreciate the support I’ve had here. I don’t know, maybe some of them are still feeling the pain from last year. Either way, I don’t agree.”
The head of his team, Toto Wolff , was in line with the seven-time champion, and assured that these attitudes cannot be tolerated: “We should not see boos in any sport, I think that is unsportsmanlike.”
“It’s clear that we love the support that the drivers and the team have here, that’s fantastic, but if you don’t like the others, keep quiet. That would be a good way,” defended the Austrian. “The booing…I think neither driver deserves one, whatever the rivalry was from last year.”
“Imagine being out there doing an interview or on the podium and getting booed,” Wolff said. “That’s why there is controversy in the sport. Whether or not you are a fan of one or another driver, that’s fine, but there is a certain limit that we must not exceed.”
