After the accident with Max Verstappen, Formula 1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton is hostile to racism online. Hamilton makes Red Bull indirectly responsible for the attacks.
This article first appeared on RTL.de.
After the crash with Max Verstappen at the Formula 1 race in Silverstone, there was a hail of wild, sometimes racist insults, at the Hungarian GP, Dutch fans booed Lewis Hamilton mercilessly and insulted the record champion as “Sir Cheat” (cheat). No wonder, says Hamilton – and makes Red Bull indirectly responsible for the tirades against himself.
Unacceptable things were also said
The hostile mood against him was “no surprise, considering the statements made by the top of the team that only heated things up,” quoted “motorsport-total.com” the 36-year-old. “I think during the break people should look at what was said because unacceptable things were also said. And that’s why it all escalated.” Red Bull should act, demanded Hamilton, apparently referring to a case to which the team has already reacted.
“You should fire someone for what was said. I don’t know who it was about. But that doesn’t matter either. When I think of my friends or my father or my brother, we all feel this pain, the is evoked by the words, “said the Briton.
Red Bull fired employees for making racist statements
In fact, last week Red Bull fired an employee who allegedly made racist comments in a Whatsapp chat. The hostilities did not relate to Hamilton and the employee was not a publicly known member of the team on the track, the racing team said.
Red Bull had already positioned itself clearly after the Silverstone race when Hamilton became a target on social media and the slurry of racism oozed. “Even if we are bitter rivals on the racetrack, we are all united against racism. We condemn racist insults of any kind against our team, our competitors and our fans,” wrote Red Bull.
Previously, team boss Christian Horner and team advisor Helmut Marko had harshly criticized the Englishman for the collision with Verstappen and vehemently demanded a harsh punishment for Hamilton. In Hungary, however, Horner recently emphasized that it was “never about anything personal”. “It was about the events that happened and the competition between the two. It is not something individual against any driver. The reaction would have been the same with any other driver.”
Hamilton: “Have to be very careful with our words”
Hamilton does not, however, leave this explanation as it is. “We have to be very careful with our words, especially because children are watching too. We should encourage people out there and spread positivity,” said the seven-time world champion.
In this context, Hamilton emphasized the role model function that the big faces of Formula 1 would have. “If you have leaders in this business, then they have to be leaders too. You have people who follow them and children who follow them. And as a sport we have a responsibility. So there should be talks in the next few weeks,” demanded he.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
