Former F1 Champion Nelson Piquet Fined for Making Racist and Homophobic Feedback

BRAZIL: Brazilian three-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet has been fined 5,000,000 Brazilian Reals (£780,000) by a courtroom in Brazil for making racist and homophobic feedback towards F1 legend Lewis Hamilton. The courtroom dominated in Piquet’s case on Friday, following a lawsuit introduced by 4 human rights teams, together with Brazil’s LGBTQ+ Alliance.

Piquet commented on Hamilton throughout an interview in November 2021 whereas discussing his crash with Max Verstappen at Silverstone, which included a racial slur. 

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In a separate interview, he used racist and homophobic language towards Hamilton whereas discussing Hamilton dropping out on the 2016 title to his Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg.

When information of Piquet’s feedback first emerged final yr, Hamilton responded by posting on social media, calling for a change within the sport and society. 

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The FIA suspended Piquet’s entry to the paddock indefinitely after the feedback got here to gentle, however he did apologize and problem a press release clarifying his phrases.

In passing down the judgment on Friday, Decide Pedro Matos de Arrudo stated that the fantastic was given “within the sense that one shouldn’t solely recognize the reparative perform of civil legal responsibility but additionally (and maybe primarily) the punitive perform in order that, as a society, we will sometime be free from the pernicious acts which can be racism and homophobia.”

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Piquet apologized for his feedback final yr, stating that they had been ill-thought-out and that he made no defence for what he stated. 

He additionally clarified that the time period he used whereas making the remarks was colloquially utilized in Brazilian Portuguese as a synonym for ‘man’ or ‘particular person’ and that his intention was to not offend anybody. 

Nonetheless, he strongly condemned any suggestion that he used the phrase to belittle Hamilton due to his pores and skin color.

Discrimination has no place in F1 or society, and the courtroom’s condemnation of Piquet’s feedback is a testomony to that. The numerous monetary penalty signifies that motorsports followers won’t tolerate such behaviour within the sport or society in a unified method.

Hamilton’s response to the ruling has not been made public, however his earlier requires change and motion towards such attitudes within the sport point out that he’ll doubtless welcome the judgment towards Piquet. 

The F1 group has additionally condemned Piquet’s feedback, and this ruling sends a transparent message to followers that they don’t tolerate such acts of indecency.

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