Lewis Hamilton has praised Brazilian authorities for handing three-time Method One champion Nelson Piquet a big effective for utilizing racist and anti-gay language in feedback concerning the Mercedes driver.
A Brazilian court docket final week ordered Piquet to pay 5 million Brazilian reals ($953,050) in “ethical damages” for remarks about Hamilton in interviews in 2021 and 2016.
“I nonetheless imagine that we usually should not be giving individuals which can be simply filled with hate a platform,” Hamilton informed reporters at Albert Park forward of the Australian Grand Prix.
“I would wish to acknowledge the Brazil authorities, I believe it is fairly wonderful what they’ve achieved in holding somebody accountable, exhibiting people who that isn’t tolerated.
“Racism and homophobia isn’t acceptable, and there’s no place for it inside our society. So I like that they’ve proven that they stand for one thing.”
Piquet, 70, apologised to seven-time world champion Hamilton final yr and mentioned he had been mistranslated by some media.
Hamilton, who was lately awarded honorary Brazilian citizenship, is the game’s solely Black driver.