Dylan Bettencourt
Former Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet offered an apology to Lewis Hamilton but claimed the alleged racial slur he used to refer to him was mistranslated.
The 69-year-old is said to have used racial language when discussing Hamilton’s crash with Max Verstappen at last year’s British Grand Prix during a podcast.
“I would like to clear up the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year.
“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,” Piquet said in a statement.
According to Associated Press the term “neguinho” translates into English as “little black guy.”
The three-time world champion said he condemns any racial abuse and claimed he would never insult a driver based on the colour of their skin.
“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,” said Piquet.
“Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect,” the Brazilian added.
Hamilton, who has honorary citizenship in Brazil, said mindsets have to change following the incident.
“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 I have been targeted all my life,” the seven-time world champion wrote on Twitter.
“There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.”
Piquet’s daughter, Kelly – who is also Verstappen’s girlfriend – had several clashes with Hamilton on his path to becoming Formula 1 champion last year.
It will be the one-year anniversary of the infamous crash between the pair at the British Grand Prix this Sunday, but this time round the situation is very different.
Red Bull have won five Grand Prix’s in a row while Mercedes are yet to claim a race victory.
Image source: @NOS
