Nelson Piquet has released a confusing apology after being caught racially abusing Sir Lewis Hamilton last year.
In November, Piquet was giving an interview during which he analysed a collision at the British Grand Prix between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, after which the Dutchman was sent crashing out of the race.
Piquet used a racial slur to describe Hamilton and, ahead of the race at Silverstone this year, his comments have resurfaced.
It has led to widespread condemnation from the sporting world and beyond, with multiple teams and drivers coming to the defence of the seven-time champion, who continues to face abhorrent discrimination.
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Piquet called every driver by their actual name during his interview, and only used the offensive term to describe Hamilton.
He used this to try and defend his actions amid a perplexing attempt at apologising.
“I would like to clear the stories circulating in the media about a comment I made in an interview last year,” said Piquet.
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“What I said was ill thought out, and I make no defence for it, but I will clarify that the term used is one that has widely and historically been used in Brazilian Portuguese for a synonym for ‘guy’ or ‘person’ and was never intended to offend.
“I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations.
“I strongly condemn any suggestion that the word was used by me with the aim of belittling a driver because of his skin colour.
“I apologise wholeheartedly to anyone that was affected, including Lewis, who is an incredible driver, but the translation in some media that is now circulating on social media is not correct.
“Discrimination has no place in F1 or society and I am happy to clarify my thoughts in that respect.”
Multiple reports within the F1 paddock are reporting that Piquet’s paddock access has now been revoked, and he has been banned.