Three-time world champion, Nelson Piquet has issued a brief statement as the fall-out over his comment about Lewis Hamilton continues.

"I would like to clear the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year," says the Brazilian, who used a racial slur in referring to the seven-time world champion in a podcast interview last November.

"What I said was ill thought out," he continues, "and I make no defence for it, but I will clarify that the term used is one that has widely and historically been used in Brazilian Portuguese for 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.

"I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour," he insists. "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."

Meanwhile, it is understood that Piquet, who won 23 Grands Prix over a career that spanned 13 seasons and saw him race for Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton, is now banned from the F1 paddock.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by elsiebc, 02/07/2022 5:03

"While my story is true, my tongue is so firmly planted in my cheek that I'm on a liquid only diet.
"

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2. Posted by kenji, 01/07/2022 1:03

"@Spindoctor....you appear reluctant to name just who drew all the attention to the infamous podcast? It just shows how far down the gurgler we are when, in the 21st. century, the mere utterance of words are considered a crime. Progressive nonsense.

@ elsiebc...there are still only two genders. "

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3. Posted by elsiebc, 30/06/2022 17:20

"About 25 years ago, back when there were only two genders, I was talking with a female I didn't know who was probably late 30's. I was telling a story and referred to the mature female in the story as a "girl". She took great offense to that, that I would call her a "girl" rather than "lady" or "woman". So I guess some folks could take offense to the term "guy" or "person". Totally understand. "

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4. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 30/06/2022 17:15

"I thought I saw a comment, or reporting, that V.Max is dating Piquet's daughter? If so this might have more to do with Lewis (or some supporter) trying to get into V.Max's head than anything really to do with racism. If not, I can't imagine what anyone would gain by dredging this up now. Maybe just someone with a personal grudge against Piquet. As others have said, I also don't speak Portuguese, so I don't know if what he said is being translated correctly or not. "

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 30/06/2022 16:26

"@kenji
"dredging up" indiscretions is a large part of the (un)social media experience. As to who did it & why? You've answered your own question!

Fact is that Piquet was, at the least, disrespectful and (as the saying goes) "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime""

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6. Posted by kenji, 30/06/2022 14:37

"@Defiant...not sure of what you're implying there! I see the dredged up link as possibly connected via the timing of 'other' issues of a similar nature. Then there's the question of who it was that dredged up the link? TBH, over the very long term of my following F1 [since inception] I have learnt that there is very little about what happens that's divorced from political scrapping between all principals and others with vested interests when it comes to maintaining an edge.

@ Stitch431...nailed it. Rank hypocrisy but it won't run as a deviation from the planned cancellation. "

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7. Posted by Pavlo, 30/06/2022 11:46

"Banning him seems ridiculously bad idea.
He is 3 time WDC, and will always stay F1 legend, wether in or outside paddock. He anyway makes more sense there than any of the so-called celebrities, no matter what I think about his personality.
Having him apologised and explained he didn’t mean to offend, and a promise to watch his words, has much higher value for anti-racism movement than banning. "

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8. Posted by Stitch431, 30/06/2022 9:08

"I sense a bit of hypocrisy here. While Nelson Piquet is banned from the paddock because of a misunderstanding of the language, rappers who rap all day about Mother F#ck#ng N..gers are invited as VIPs to Miami at the GP ...
"

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9. Posted by Defiant, 30/06/2022 2:30

"@Brighton Corgi. I'm inclined to agree with your comment. "

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10. Posted by Defiant, 30/06/2022 2:28

"@kenji. deflect, dupe... all correct questions worthy of asking, but it's astonishing that you don't use the exact same questions for your very own comparison."

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11. Posted by kenji, 30/06/2022 1:13

"Moving further on I have a question. How is it that an oblique comment in a Brazilian/Portuguese 'patois' podcast made almost one year ago now surfaces ......accompanied by the deafening call for retribution by the righteous. Who would've made it a press priority and for what purpose? On a global scale millions of questionable comments would be made daily but without garnering any comment whatsoever.As such one has to ask the question, is this a cynical attempt to deflect 'other' issues prior to the Silverstone race taking place? If so then the media are either in synch or have been duped. Yes, some people are offended by what Piquet said but comparatively, I take greater offense at seeing women and children unmercilessly slaughtered indiscrimately in the Ukraine by evil Russians. It's perspective by degree."

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12. Posted by Spindoctor, 29/06/2022 22:51

"Only Piquet knows what he really meant by his comment and he claims no racist intent. Whatever, I suspect that he wasn’t being very complimentary about Sir Lewis. "

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13. Posted by Bill Hopgood, 29/06/2022 20:39

"If what Piquet has said about the language used is the way it is, as in "guy" is used elsewhere then I'm guessing there will be a ton of podcasts sensored from that part of the world."

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14. Posted by Mad Matt, 29/06/2022 17:18

"I don't speak Portuguese so I can't judge but otherwise I tend to agree with Mr B.Corgi below."

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15. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 29/06/2022 16:53

"What Piquet said is shameful and knew what he was saying.

I don't think he should be banned from the paddock; that's a bit much. Is there now a purity test everyone must pass? What can be said and what not? Is there a list?"

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Piquet issues statement

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