Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday that Formula One must stop giving space to “old voices” and reject racism, instead focusing on being a more inclusive sport.
At the same time, reigning champion Max Verstappen said his “father-in-law” should not be banned from the paddock.
Hamilton, the only black driver in F1, reacted to comments made last year by Nelson Piquet, who used racist language when referring to the seven-time world champion. The phrase of the Brazilian who won three F1 titles in the 1980s went viral this week. Piquet is the father of Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly Piquet.
Also on Thursday, Bernie Ecclestone, the former F1 boss, came to Piquet’s defence, saying on a British television show that he was surprised Hamilton “didn’t gloss over” the matter. He also expressed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.
“I don’t know why we keep giving these old voices a platform, given that they’re talking about our sport, and we’re looking to go in a completely different direction. And it’s not representative of who we are as a sport right now and where we’re planning to go,” Hamilton said without mentioning Piquet or Ecclestone by name.
“These old voices, whether subconsciously or consciously, they don’t agree with people like me being in a sport like this, with women being here,” Hamilton said ahead of the British Grand Prix. “Discrimination is not something we should project or promote.”
In apparent response to Ecclestone’s comments, Hamilton added: “No one should overlook racism, and it is not for me to overlook it.”
Verstappen, for his part, said Piquet was wrong to use a word that is “very offensive” but that he does not consider it to be racist. He also indicated that Piquet’s lifetime access to the F1 paddock as a former champion should not be revoked.
“I think the expression that was used, although of course with different kinds of cultures and things that they said when they were little and younger, was not correct,” Verstappen said.
“Let it be a lesson for the future not to use that word, because it is very offensive, and especially today, it already generates more traction,” said the Dutchman. “But I spend a lot of time with Nelson, I think more than the average person in general, and he’s definitely not a racist, he’s actually a very nice, laid-back guy.”
Verstappen indicated that he has not discussed the situation with Piquet. “It is not up to me to have to talk to my father-in-law, just like you. I’m not going to call him and say, ‘Hey, that’s not right. I think he knows it himself,” he stated.
Hamilton did not immediately respond to Verstappen’s comments.
The British multi-champion said he wants F1 to open up to more diversity and inclusivity. Hamilton works with her Mercedes team to fund projects that seek to increase the participation of women in motorsports and scholarships for black engineering students focused on motorsports. They announced the first scholarships on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Drivers’ Club of Great Britain — which owns the Silverstone circuit where the British GP will be staged this weekend — suspended Piquet’s honorary membership on Thursday.
Piquet apologized to Hamilton on Wednesday, saying he was “clumsy” in uttering the expression “neguinho” (black in Portuguese). He pointed out that he did not mean to offend.
The Brazilian used the phrase three times when commenting on a podcast about Hamilton’s clash with Verstappen at Silverstone last year.
