Lewis Hamilton Calls for “Archaic Mindsets” to Vanish After Racist Comment
What happened inside a Portuguese‐speaking interview in São Paulo has caused a domino effect: from social media backlash to a rallying cry for the sport’s future.
What Went Down
- Nelson Piquet – the 69‑year‑old Brazilian three‑time champion, in a YouTube clip from November, threw a racial slur at Hamilton during a discussion of the 2023 British Grand Prix crash.
- He also accused the world champion of “playing dirty”, sparking immediate outrage.
- With Kelly Piquet (the F1 driver’s partner) and Verstappen in the mix, the comments resonated even more.
Hamilton’s Response
On Twitter, the 46‑year‑old Mercedes ace didn’t hold back:
“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.”
He’s the only Black driver in Formula 1, and he’s been honored as a Brazilian citizen—so the comments carry extra weight.
The Big‑Name Backups
- Italia’s FIA, Formula One & Mercedes all sent statements saying racism is “unacceptable” but stopped short of naming Piquet.
- Tennis star Naomi Osaka shared Hamilton’s tweet, echoing the call “time has come for action.”
- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc reiterated, “The comments made towards Lewis should not be tolerated, and we should continue to push for a more diverse and inclusive sport.”
Who Else (Is) Talking
Brasil’s former Eco‑Minister Carlos Minc hailed Hamilton as a hero, pointing to his activism against a forest‑cutting project that’d built a circuit. While Piquet, a known Bolsonaro supporter, even drove the president’s Rolls‑Royce last year.
Why This Matters Now
With the 2025 season’s opening round at Silverstone on the horizon, every driver is looking ahead. But this episode reminds everyone how the sport—and society as a whole—has to pull its weight on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Australia Abaray – aka Lewis Hamilton: a sincere sue—thanks for the reminder that no one, including the Black champion, is getting unqualified by “ancient” attitudes. He’s already done what most take years to do: he’s unrelenting. It’s time for everyone to keep his message on your schedule and bring action to the fore.
