Three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet has failed to overturn the court’s decision of fining him for racist and homophobic remarks towards Lewis Hamilton in 2022. Piquet was fined five million Brazilian Reals in March 2022 which equates to £810,000 for making racist and homophobic remarks about Lewis Hamilton.
A TV interview with Piquet that was first aired in late-2021 resurfaced on social media last year where he used a racially offensive term. The Former F1 driver had criticised Hamilton for his crash with RedBull driver Max Verstappen in the corpse corner and called him racist words, in his native language. Further footage emerged around the same time of him also using homophobic language towards Hamilton.
Piquet said, “The little n****r [Lewis Hamilton] put the car in and left because there was no way to pass two cars on that corner. He made a joke. Lucky for him, only the other one [Max Verstappen] got f****d up.”
Check out the audio here:
As a reaction to these comments, charges were brought by four human rights groups, including Brazil’s National LGBT+ Alliance. These organisations wanted Piquet to pay 10 million Brazilian Reals for alleged moral damages. So after attempting to appeal the verdict, Piquet was denied by the Court of Justice of the Federal District in Brazil and hence is required to pay the five million Brazilian Reals.
At the time of the initial ruling, Hamilton said: “I’d like to acknowledge the Brazilian government. I think it’s pretty amazing what they have done in holding someone accountable, showing people that it’s not tolerated.”