Lewis Hamilton endured racist taunts from spectators at Formula One testing, Spanish media reported Sunday. The 23-year-old from Britain, F1’s first black driver, was jeered and insulted when he moved between the McLaren motor home and the team’s garage at the Montmelo circuit on Saturday. Circuit director Ramon Pradera instructed staff to erect barriers around the team’s paddock for Hamilton’s safety, the reports said. Banners making references to Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis were removed while the stands directly above McLaren’s garage were cleared to ensure no debris could be thrown down when the car returned to the pit lane. “We would like to make a plea to the fans to behave correctly, ” Pradera said. “No type of offensive behavior can be tolerated. ” Last season, Fernando Alonso of Spain failed to clinch a third straight championship after he joined McLaren from Renault. Alonso finished third in the drivers’ standings, while rookie Hamilton was second. www.iht.com
The sport’s ruling body said Monday the abuse aimed at F1’s first black driver during weekend testing at the Barcelona circuit might result in sanctions. Punishment could lead to the removal of two races from the Grand Prix calendar—the Spanish Grand Prix on April 27 in Barcelona and the European GP on Aug. 24 at Valencia. FIA, the governing organization, said it will write to Spanish authorities to learn what happened before making a decision. “Formula One is a global, multicultural sport, ” FIA said. “It does not have scenes like this in its history and doesn’t want to see scenes like this. ” A group of spectators wore wigs, dark makeup and T-shirts with the words “Hamilton’s Family” scrawled on them. The circuit said Monday it may take legal action against those spectators involved in the racist taunts. www.espn.com
UPDATE: February 6, 2008 06:56 am
LONDON: The Spanish motorsports federation on Monday issued a stinging condemnation of fans who racially abused McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton at the weekend and declared their ‘absolute repulsion’ at the incidents in Barcelona.
The RFEdeA responded after the International Automobile Federation (FIA) demanded a full report and a source close to Formula One’s governing body warned that Spain’s two grands prix could be at risk.
Hamilton, the sport’s first black driver and championship runner-up in a sensational rookie season last year, was taunted and insulted during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya.
The 23-year-old has become a hate figure in Spain because of his rivalry with former McLaren team-mate and double world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who now drives for Renault.
“The Federation want to show their absolute repulsion at these incomprehensible incidents and demonstrate their support and solidarity for the McLaren team and especially their driver Lewis Hamilton, ” the Spanish statement said.
“This type of idiots that are confusing sporting rivalry with violence should be aware that the Federation have a zero-tolerance approach to this issue. ”
