Three-time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet apologized “with all his heart” to Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after using a racially offensive term to describe the Mercedes star.
Hamilton said “the time has come for action” following Piquet’s remarks, while Formula One and motorsport’s governing body the FIA condemned the 69-year-old Brazilian.
Piquet said in a statement: “I sincerely apologize to anyone affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but in some of the translations that are now circulating on social media, that is not correct.”
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Piquet, who won world titles in 1981, 1983 and 1987, was discussing the accident between Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the first lap of last year’s British Grand Prix when he used the term.
His daughter, Kelly, is Verstappen’s partner.
“What I said was misunderstood, and I make no defense for it, but I will clarify that the word that has been used is widely and historically in Brazilian Portuguese to mean ‘boy’ or ‘person’. used colloquially as a synonym and was never intended to offend,” Pickett said.
“I will never use the word I have been accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that I use the term for the purpose of belittling the driver’s skin color.” went. “
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Piquet is a supporter of Brazil’s right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, and was a driver for him on the country’s Independence Day last year.
Hamilton, the only black driver on the grid, has been a vocal campaigner for more diversity in the sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqZen_-S0u0
The seven-time world champion regularly displayed “Black Lives Matter” on his apparel and took a knee before a race in the 2020 season following the killing of George Floyd in the US.
Hamilton has also campaigned on LGBTQ+ rights and environmental issues.
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