F1: Video shows Nelson Piquet adding slur against Lewis Hamilton

Sao Paulo –

Extra video in Brazilian media reveals retired Formulation One champion Nelson Piquet utilizing homophobic language and extra racial slurs about Lewis Hamilton.

The web site Grande Premio revealed video late Thursday — apparently filmed final yr with Piquet talking in Portuguese — wherein the 69-year-old Brazilian used homophobic language to say the British driver wasn’t targeted to problem Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg for the 2016 title, which the German received. There was additionally a fourth occasion of a racial slur about Hamilton, who’s Black.

For earlier slurs that got here to wider consideration this week, Piquet has already been extensively condemned by F1, drivers, groups, and governing physique, the FIA.

On a podcast final November, Piquet mentioned a crash between Hamilton and Max Verstappen throughout final yr’s British Grand Prix. Piquet referred to Hamilton as “neguinho” in Portuguese, which implies “little Black man.” The time period shouldn’t be essentially a racist slur in Brazil, however it’s an expression that’s more and more seen as distasteful, and its phrasing can even emphasize that.

Piquet apologized to Hamilton on Wednesday, however stated the time period, whereas “sick thought out,” was not meant to be offensive. He added “neguinho” can be utilized as a brief for “folks on the whole.” However his phrasing in that a part of the video left little doubt he was singling out Hamilton as “the little Black man,” to which he added a homophobic slur.

Piquet’s spokesman didn’t remark in regards to the video revealed late Thursday after a request from The Related Press.

There was no fast response from Hamilton or Verstappen to the Grande Premio footage.

Piquet was suspended on Thursday from his honorary membership of the British Racing Drivers’ Membership, which owns and runs the Silverstone monitor, the positioning of this week’s grand prix.

Hamilton has referred to as for “archaic mindsets” to alter. After former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone defended Piquet on British TV, Hamilton questioned why “older voices” are given prominence in F1.

Sequence chief Verstappen, who’s in a relationship with Piquet’s daughter, Kelly Piquet, stated on Thursday that Piquet used a “very, very offensive” phrase to explain Hamilton however he didn’t consider Piquet to be a racist.

Piquet, the F1 champion in 1981, 1983 and 1987, has divided F1 followers in Brazil for persevering with to disparage fellow Brazilian star Ayton Senna, and questioning his sexuality with out proof.

Senna, a hero of Hamilton’s, was killed in a crash in 1994 on the San Marino GP. Nonetheless, Piquet has made homophobic references to Senna, most just lately in a 2020 interview.

Piquet has additionally angered F1 followers for his staunch assist of far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Piquet supporters have stated on social media that the current video of Piquet has gone viral as a part of a political smear marketing campaign towards the president.