Former Brazilian Formula 1 driver Nelson Beckett “heartily apologizes” to seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday after calling him a “little black” (“Neguinho” in Portuguese) in a video, while wanting to “clarify” his thinking.
“I apologize with all my heart to all those affected, including Luis, an amazing driver, but the translation in some media now circulating on social media is not correct,” the 69-year-old Brazilian said in a statement.
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In an interview that dates back to November 2021 but resurfaced online on Tuesday, the triple world champion (1981, 1983, 1987) used the word “Little Black” (“Nigueño” in Portuguese) to talk about Hamilton on his return to an accident involving It features Briton and Dutchman Max Verstappen on the first lap of the British Grand Prix in 2021.
“The little black guy put his car down and left it because there was no way to pass (and have) two cars on that bend” (as Verstappen ended up violently in a wall forcing him to retire), Pique said in this video. Interview with Motorsports.com.
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And on Wednesday, Pique wanted to “clarify the news circulating in the media.”
“What I have said has not been well thought out and I do not defend myself against it, but I want to make it clear that the term used is one that has been widely and historically used in the Brazilian Portuguese language as a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘nobody’ and that it was not intended to offend. Start.
“I will never use the word I was accused of in some translations. I strongly condemn any suggestion that I would have used that word to belittle the pilot because of the color of his skin,” adds the former pilot.
On Tuesday, Hamilton replied: “These are more than just words. These old mentalities must change and have no place in our sport.
Pique’s comments have also been widely condemned in the world of Formula 1, by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), by Formula 1, the world’s championship organizer, and by other teams and drivers.
Pique, who is also the father of Verstappen’s girlfriend, is a supporter of far-right Brazilian head of state Jair Bolsonaro.
