Piquet ordered to pay $950k for racist and homophobic comments against Lewis Hamilton
Brazilian court orders Nelson Piquet to pay $950k in moral damages for racist, homophobic comments against Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton called for change after Piquet used racial slur in a November 2021 interview.
According to a recent Reuters report, Nelson Piquet, a three-time Formula 1 world champion from Brazil, has been ordered by a court to pay 5 million Brazilian Reals ($953,050) in moral damages for his racist and homophobic comments against Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton.
The ruling came after Piquet used a racial slur when commenting on Hamilton's crash with Max Verstappen during the British Grand Prix in November 2021.
Hamilton, who is the only Black driver in the sport, responded to Piquet's comments by calling for a change in "archaic mindsets."
In a later clip, which surfaced on social media, Piquet used racist and homophobic language against Hamilton when describing how he missed out on the 2016 championship to Nico Rosberg.
The charges were brought by four human rights groups, including Brazil's National LGBT+ Alliance.
Apology and Punishment
Following the backlash, Piquet issued an apology to Hamilton, stating that his comments had been mistranslated.
This did not prevent the court from ruling against him.
The judge, Pedro Matos de Arrudo, stated that the amount of compensation was given "in the sense that one should not only appreciate the reparative function of civil liability but also (and perhaps mainly) the punitive function so that, as a society, we can someday be free from the pernicious acts that are racism and homophobia."
The ruling serves as a reminder that there is no place for hate speech in Formula 1 or any other sport.
While Piquet's comments were made outside of the sport, they still have consequences, and it is important that those who engage in such behavior are held accountable.
Hamilton's Impact
Hamilton has been vocal about the issue of racism in Formula 1, and his efforts have led to significant changes within the sport.
In 2020, Hamilton launched the "Hamilton Commission" to address the lack of diversity in motorsport, and in June 2021, he was awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship in recognition of his activism.
In response to the court's ruling, Hamilton's team released a statement saying,
"We welcome the court's decision to hold Nelson Piquet accountable for his actions."
"We stand with Lewis in his efforts to combat racism and discrimination in all its forms."
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