Yesterday afternoon suddenly lit up with an old statement that came back to the surface. The episode in question is about the words that Nelson Piquet, a former three-time world champion, would have turned to Lewis Hamilton last November, referring to the contact with Max Verstappen at Silverstone 2021.”The n***et (referring to Lewis) did it on purpose” . A sentence that enveloped Piquet, and his whole family including Verstappen and Red Bull in a shroud of controversy. There condemnation of what happened and messages from solidarity towards Lewis they came from every corner of the paddock, except for the Austrian one who kept out of the discussion.
Apologies and clarification
As in the case of Juri vips, fired from Red Bull after an unhappy exit during a live on Twitch, even from Piquetapologies have arrived. He did so with a statement that partially justifies his actions. Making sure to get out of it obviously, as clean as possible.
"I would like to clarify the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year. What I said was poorly thought out and I don't defend it. I want to clarify that the term used has been widely and historically used colloquially in Brazilian as a synonym for “boy” or “person” and was never intended as an offense.
Already in the second afternoon of yesterday to give the assist to Piquet arrived the nephew Rodrigo. The young man, in defense of his uncle, invoked an old Piquet tradition. The Brazilian word "niggain fact, it would actually be an affectionate epithet used by the grandmother. So she would have nothing to do with the term n**** racist.
“I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translation. I strongly condemn any insinuation that the word has been used by me for the purpose of belittling a driver because of his skin colour."
Racism not tolerable
In the last verses of the communiqué come the apologies , sentence toof any shape of discrimination. "I apologize wholeheartedly to anyone affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver. However the translation of some media that is circulating on social media is incorrect. Discrimination has no place in the F1 or in society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts on this matter“, concluded Piquet.
Statement source: Formula Passion
