The Formula 1 sport has taken a step towards diversity and inclusivity. The sport has seen drivers with different ethnicities, backgrounds, and races for a while. However, while the sport takes steps towards bringing more diversity to it, racism has surfaced over the past few years too. Whether it’s ex-drivers or team bosses, there have been times when one has been accused of using racial slurs. The same situation repeated for Sergio Perez after statements from Helmut Marko.
Lewis Hamilton has opened up about being a victim of racial abuse on multiple occasions. However, one of the biggest scandals in F1 came with Nelson Piquet. The three-time champion used racially discriminatory words against the Briton in an interview. However, recently, Helmut Marko was accused of the same after using racial slurs against Sergio Perez. The Red Bull boss was talking on national television about his drivers. However, when he compared Sergio Perez to Verstappen, racist remarks came out.
We must no longer tolerate xenophobia and racism in F1 #WeRaceAsOne pic.twitter.com/P7ssXawsex
— Andy López (@LicAndyLpez1) September 8, 2023
Although Helmut Marko made official statements apologizing, the situation has blown up. Nonetheless, after the remarks, statements against racism made by Lewis Hamilton resurfaced. The driver is outspoken about racism and has also promoted the Black Lives Matter movement in the sport. In 2022, when the driver was subjected to racism yet again, he spoke on the issue on Twitter. He wrote,
“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 targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.”
Hamilton has since stood up for human rights and spoken against racial discrimination. The driver has also promoted making the sport diverse and inclusive.
About the Lewis Hamilton-Nelson Pique fiasco in 2022
Lewis Hamilton has opened up about the racial remarks that he faced. Ever since his karting days, Hamilton has been subjected to light racism which turned into racial abuse. However, the Brit has come a long way since then. He kept on as he made history in the sport and became an integral part of it. Nonetheless, it wasn’t long until the racism followed him to Formula 1. Nelson Piquet, a three-time champion and ex-Formula 1 driver, made racial statements towards the Brit.
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 targeted my whole life. There has been plenty of time to learn. Time has come for action.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) June 28, 2022
Piquet was on a podcast interview when he talked about Lewis Hamilton and Nico Roserg’s 2016 championship battle. He also mentioned Max Verstappen and Hamilton’s battles. That is when he called him by a racial slur. He soon apologized for his “ill-thought” remark. However, the F1 world did not take the situation well. People demanded punishment while all the F1 drivers stood in solidarity with Lewis Hamilton to stop racism.
Nelson Piquet was fined $950,000 by the Brazilian court. However, it only turned into a nightmare for the champion after Piquet was banned from the Formula 1 races. Piquet’s family also received hate for supporting the champion’s remarks on the internet. Max Verstappen was asked to voice his opinions about the situation to which he agreed it wasn’t right. The driver is dating Nelson Piquet’s daughter Kelly Piquet, who also received hate for being associated with the family.