The Formula One community has united in their support of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after it emerged that ex-champion Nelson Piquet used a racial slur when discussing Hamilton on a Brazilian podcast ahead of the 2021 Formula One season finale.
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2022
The Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team who Hamilton races for tweeted:
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 28, 2022
Lewis Hamilton himself tweeted in response to what happened saying:
It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport. I’ve been surrounded by these attitudes and targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022
Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell tweeted his support saying:
Huge respect to LH. He has done more for the sport than any driver in history, not just on track but off it. The fact that he and so many others are STILL having to deal with this behaviour is unacceptable. We all need to stand together against discrimination of any kind. https://t.co/E4c1jFQKtf
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) June 28, 2022
Mercedes weren’t the only Formula One team to respond to what happened with McLaren tweeting:
McLaren Racing stands alongside @LewisHamilton and @F1.
Racism must be driven out of our sport, and it’s our shared responsibility to unite and eliminate it.
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) June 28, 2022
Formula One’s governing body, the FIA tweeted:
The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which have no place in sport or wider society. We express our solidarity with @LewisHamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport.
— FIA (@fia) June 28, 2022
Lewis Hamilton lost out in the race for an eighth Formula One World Championship to Max Verstappen last December.