Hamilton responded to Piquet: "You need to change those archaic mentalities"

The seven -time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton responded via his Twitter account to the incredibly racist comment that Brazilian three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, father of Max Verstappen’s current partner, Kelly, engaged him in a podcast reviewing the last year’s British maneuver on the Dutchman at the start. of the Silverstone race.

“It’s more than just language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I’ve been surrounded by these thoughts and goals throughout my life,” Hamilton tweeted on Tuesday. “Lots of time to learn. It’s time to act.”

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Hamilton, who recently received honorary Brazilian citizenship and is the only black driver in the sport of F1, also wrote a message in Portuguese to go directly to the recipient who called him “neguiho” in a YouTube podcast of November called Enerto. “Let’s focus on changing the mindset” (Let’s focus on changing the mindset).

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The word does not mean a racist slur in Brazil, but it is an expression seen as increasingly unpleasant, and its formulation may also emphasize it. Piquet’s comment didn’t go viral at the time, but it suddenly happened on Monday in the week of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He also said Hamilton “played dirty” in the incident.

Hamilton’s release came after the governing body of motorsports, the FIA, Formula 1 and Mercedes issued statements condemning racism, even without mentioning the legendary Piquet by name.

“Discrimination or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no place in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves to be respected,” Formula 1 said.

Mercedes said Hamilton was “a true champion of diversity on and off the track”, while the FIA ​​expressed solidarity and support for “Briton’s commitment to equality, diversity and integration in motorsport “.

Piquet is a staunch supporter of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the most right -wing politician ready to be re -elected within 100 days. Piquet drove the presidential Rolls-Royce at a ceremony in Brasilia last year, which went viral.