Updated at 16.59
NELSON PIQUET faced further widespread condemnation on Friday after further video evidence emerged revealing him using homophobic language to add to his earlier racist slurs against Lewis Hamilton.
Leading figures in Formula One at the British Grand Prix including Red Bull team chief Christian Horner, 2009 world champion Jenson Button and respected commentator Martin Brundle said they were “appalled” and “disgusted” by the latest Piquet revelations.
“We are appalled at Nelson’s comments from an interview from some time ago,” said Horner whose team dismissed reserve driver Estonian Juri Vips for using a similar expression earlier this week.
“We felt that actions sometimes talk louder than words -— and our action was draconian, but in line with our policy. We are fully behind Lewis, fully signed up to the Hamilton Commission.
“And Max (Verstappen) is absolutely clear, too, that he is fully supportive of Lewis and not just Lewis but against any form of racism or discrimination.”
Three-time world champion Piquet had been banned from Formula One and suspended from his membership of the British Racing Drivers Club on Thursday when reports of his offensive language and racist slurs of Hamilton were first revealed.
But overnight social media posts, notably by Brazilian news channel Metropoles on Twitter, showed Piquet, 69, using vulgar homophobic terms in an insulting manner in a further attack on Hamilton.
The Brazilian used the language, which prompted widespread outrage in defence of Hamilton on Thursday, during an interview discussion of Hamilton’s clash with Max Verstappen at last year’s British Grand Prix, for a podcast broadcast in Brazil last November.
Piquet’s daughter Kelly is Verstappen’s girlfriend, a connection that may have prompted his vehement attack on Hamilton following their Silverstone crash.
In the new clip, Piquet attacks Hamilton and also insults Keke Rosberg, the 1982 champion, and his son Nico, who was Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate and winner of the 2016 world championship.
According to one translation of the dialogue, Piquet said: “Keke? Was shit! Zero value. His son won the championship.”
He then used a racist slur to describe Hamilton before saying he “was giving ass at that time. He was kinda bad”.
The interviewer and Piquet both laughed at these comments, which caused uproar in the Formula One paddock.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has avoided potential action from Formula One’s governing body by removing his nose stud for opening practice at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s jewellery stand-off with the FIA has been ongoing since April’s Australian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion was granted a number of medical exemptions by the FIA relating to the taking out of the nose stud – which he said could not be easily removed. His latest exemption expired on Thursday.
Hamilton conducted his media duties at Silverstone with the item of jewellery still in place, but the FIA has confirmed to the PA news agency that it has been taken it out for the opening action of the weekend.
Hamilton would have been required to see the stewards if he did not comply with the FIA. Formula One’s regulator want to enforce the rule on safety grounds.
While a number of options were available to the stewards – including a reprimand, fine or the docking of championship points – the worst-case scenario for Hamilton was a suspension for a breach of the rules.
Additional reporting by Press Association
