Lewis Hamilton applauds Brazil's fine of ex-Formula 1 star Nelson Piquet for racist comments
Lewis Hamilton is pleased with the Brazilian government's decision to fine former Formula 1 star Nelson Piquet nearly $1 million for making racist and homophobic comments in recent interviews.
The Mercedes driver spoke with the media on Thursday ahead of the Australian Grand Prix and applauded a judge's order to punish the three-time champion, which read, "so that, as a society, we can someday be free from the pernicious acts that are racism and homophobia."
"Back when it happened I made comments on it – I still believe that we generally shouldn't be giving people that are just full of hate a platform," Hamilton said, according to Sky Sports. "I'd like to acknowledge the Brazil government. I think it's pretty amazing what they have done in holding someone accountable, showing people that it's not tolerated."
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What did Nelson Piquet say about Lewis Hamilton?
In an interview from November 2021, Piquet called Hamilton a racially-charged name. He received criticism when the interview circulated on the internet six months later. When discussing Hamilton's crash in the British Grand Prix with his daughter's partner, Max Verstappen, the Brazilian called Hamilton, the only Black driver in the sport, a word in Portuguese that can be used as a racial slur
Footage from another interview leaked a month later where Piquet used racist and homophobic language to discuss how Hamilton handled losing the 2016 World Championship.
Hamilton spoke publicly on the comments, saying the words are "more than language" and that "archaic mindsets need to change and have no place in our sport."
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Piquet apologized, saying that he didn't mean harm and that his words were translated incorrectly.
Is Lewis Hamilton Brazilian?
No, Hamilton is not Brazilian by birth as he hails from Stevenage, England. The seven-time world champion has long been an admirer of the South American country, and his sports hero is legendary Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna. He became an honorary citizen of Brazil in November ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
"It is honestly the greatest honor for me to be here receiving and accepting this citizenship," he said at the ceremony. "I really do feel like now I’m one of you, finally."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lewis Hamilton cheers Brazil fine of Nelson Piquet for racist comments
