The tension in Formula 1 reached unsuspected limits at the end of last season 2021, when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were involved in a titanic battle for the world title, from which the Dutchman emerged the winner in the last Abu Grand Prix. Dhabi after an overtake on the last lap.
However, the fight without quarter came from further back, from the accident that sent the eventual world champion to the hospital on the first lap of the race at Silverstone. Nelson Piquet spoke about that action, who curiously is the father-in-law of the Red Bull driver, and used a racist expression when referring to the British.
That caused the rejection of the entire Formula 1 paddock, in addition to causing the category itself to publish a statement denouncing this type of behavior. Lewis Hamilton also spoke out, as did several teams on the grid, who showed their support for the Englishman on social media.
When everything seemed to have happened for the three-time world champion, the news has been known that the Federal District Court of Brazil has summoned him to testify before a judge for accusations of racist and homophobic language, with a possible fine of 10 million of Brazilian reais [more than 1.8 million euros at current exchange rates] for having caused non-pecuniary damage to the different groups.
The charges were presented to the Brazilian body by four human rights groups [Educafro, Centro Santo Dias, Aliança Nacional LGTBI+ and Abrafh], who expect the three-time Formula 1 champion from Rio de Janeiro to pay such an amount for the statements he made in his day, despite the fact that Piquet apologized to Lewis Hamilton “with all my heart” in a later statement.
The one who was one of the idols of the Great Circus in the 80s, insisted that he would never make such comments with the intention of harming anyone, but he caused the rejection of everyone in the highest category of motorsports.
Now, Nelson Piquet will have two weeks to expose his case to Judge Felipe Costa da Fonseca Gomes , belonging to the Federal District Court, so that they can reach a resolution.
