EX-FORMULA ONE champion Nelson Piquet will never be allowed back in the paddock after using a racist slur against Lewis Hamilton, it has been claimed.
Multiple F1 sources claim Piquet will be banned for life after calling Hamilton the N-word during a controversial interview in Brazil, which surfaced on Tuesday.
The three-time world champion used the derogatory term while discussing the collision between Sir Lewis and Max Verstappen at the 2021 British Grand Prix.
The 69-year-old addressed the controversy and issued a groveling apology for what he says was an “ill thought out” comment.
A statement read: “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 urged F1 chiefs for drastic change to end that sort of attitude in the sport.
The seven-time world champion wrote on social media: “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.”
F1 chiefs have spoken out in support of Hamilton insisting that racist language “has no part in society”.
A statement read: “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.”
Piquet’s relative Rodrigo tried to defend the former Brazilian driver with an eyebrow-raising post on Instagram.
He claimed that their “second grandmother” called all her family members the N-word, and even said that it is a word of “love”.
Piquet’s daughter Kelly, who is also Verstappen’s girlfriend, liked the post before a raft of comments slammed Rodrigo, who then seemingly set his account to private.
