Nelson Piquet faces lifetime F1 ban as he makes grovelling apology over racist Lewis Hamilton remarks
NELSON PIQUET has broken his silence after Lewis Hamilton called on F1 to take "action" over the Brazilian's vile racial slur.
The 69-year-old has apologised for what he says was an "ill thought out" comment, made in November last year.
A number of F1 sources claim Piquet is now set for a life ban from the paddock following the slur.
But Piquet said he "strongly condemns" suggestions he racially abused Hamilton.
A statement said: "What I said was ill thought out, and I make no defence for it, but I will clarify that the term used is one that has widely and historically been used colloquially in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend.
"I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations.
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"I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour.
"I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.
"Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect."
Hamilton, 37, wrote on social media in response to Piquet's vile slur: "It’s more than language. These archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport.
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"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."
Piquet is said to have been discussing a collision at Silverstone in 2021 between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, who dates Piquet’s daughter, Kelly.
Kelly then liked a social media post from a relative that defended her father.
The upload claimed their "second grandmother" used the word Piquet used in reference to her family members, and even said that it is a word of "love".
Seven-time world champion Hamilton has been backed by teammate George Russell and F1 icon Damon Hill in the wake of Piquet's comment.
Hill, 61, demanded Piquet be punished for the vile remark used during an interview in his homeland.
And F1 said in a statement: "Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society.
"Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect. His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1."
Meanwhile Hamilton's Mercedes team wrote: "We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind.
"Lewis has spearheaded our sport's efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track.
"Together, we share a vision for a diverse and inclusive motorsport, and this incident underlines the fundamental importance of continuing to strive for a brighter future."
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Hamilton's Merc pal George Russell tweeted: "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."
