3x F1 champion Nelson Piquet is finally facing the consequences of his actions. The former Brazilian driver used some racially insensitive terms for Lewis Hamilton in the past that created a furor in the sport. Many drivers, teams, F1, and the FIA came together to slam the comments back then. A Brazilian court has now found him guilty of the offense and delivered a stern judgment.

Nelson Piquet fined for his comments on Lewis Hamilton

In a 2021 interview in Portuguese, Piquet made some racially insensitive and possibly homophobic comments about Hamilton. The controversy did not pick up then. However, a translation of his words in English caused quite an uproar in 2022. Nelson defended himself, talking about how the word was in common use in Portuguese while he grew up. Being a crusader for inclusivity and equality, Hamilton slammed the explanation, calling for a change in the archaic mindsets.

Slapping Piquet with a $953,050 fine for causing moral damages, Judge Pedro Matos de Arrudo said the compensation amount was given “in the sense that one should not only appreciate the reparative function of civil liability but also (and perhaps mainly) the punitive function so that, as a society, we can someday be free from the pernicious acts that are racism and homophobia.”

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Nelson’s daughter Kelly, also Max Verstappen‘s girlfriend, liked a post from her uncle that defended Nelson’s comments. In the post, he wrote how their grandma used the word while they were growing up. And back then, it did not hold a negative connotation. Kelly too drew a lot of criticism for possibly defending her father’s racially charged comments.

What Piquet said against Hamilton and what they sued him for

The Public Ministry of the Federal District sought damages to the tune of $1.9 million from Nelson Piquet. However, the Brazilian still had to cough up an amount of $950k as damages. The Ministry presented its opinion in court and revealed the words Piquet used against Hamilton.

O Globo reporter, Ancelmo Gois said, “The Public Ministry of the Federal District presented an opinion to the Justice, yesterday, where it requests the condemnation of the ex-pilot Nelson Piquet for the prejudiced comment about the also pilot Lewis Hamilton, made during an interview.” [translated via Google Translate]

He added, ” [Piquet] is accused of racism and homophobia when he refers to Hamilton, at various times, as “little black man”, in addition to insinuating that he would have homoaffective relationships to achieve success.”

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What do you think about the penalty? Do you think it will act as a deterrent for Brazilian society in general?