Nelson Piquet fined £780,000 for racist and homophobic comments about Lewis Hamilton

Nelson Piquet has been ordered to pay 5 million Brazilian Reals (£780,000) in moral damages for racist and homophobic comments made against Lewis Hamilton. The charges relate to the triple formula one champion’s remarks in November 2021, when Piquet made a racial slur as he spoke about Hamilton’s crash with Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix.

Ad Hamilton stressed the need to change “archaic mindsets” when footage of the interview was circulated online last June. Saudi Arabian Grand PrixHorner 'can't see' Red Bull move for Hamilton should star leave MercedesYESTERDAY AT 16:18 Piquet issued an apology to Hamilton and said the comments had been mistranslated, but this was not the only controversial interview where the Brazilian made a derogatory reference to the seven-time world champion.

Another clip surfaced where Piquet used racist and homophobic language against Hamilton after the Brit lost out to Nico Rosberg in the 2016 championship. Judge Pedro Matos de Arrudo delivered the verdict after charges against Piquet were brought by four human rights groups, which included Brazil's National LGBT+ Alliance, who demanded that Piquet pay 10 million Brazilian Reals in moral damages.

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