Eurosport - Fri, 07 Nov 14:29:00 2008
Lewis Hamilton has put himself at odds with Bernie Ecclestone after the Formula One supremo rejected talk of racism in the sport and said recent controversies were "a joke".
Ecclestone told BBC radio that incidents in Spain and Brazil, where 23-year-old Hamilton became on Sunday the first black world champion as well as the youngest, had been blown out of proportion.
"In Spain people were supporting [Fernando] Alonso and in Sao Paulo they were supporting Felipe [Massa]," said the 78-year-old. "I don't think it has anything to do with racism.
"There were a few people in Spain ... and that was probably taken at the beginning as a joke rather than anything abusive. People sort of look and read things into things that are not there.
"All of those things are all a bit of a joke. People are entitled to support who they want to support."
Hamilton, appearing at a promotional function for McLaren team sponsor Vodafone, saw it differently.
"I don't particularly look at it as a joke," he said. "It's something that's happened but it's in the past and you've got to look forward. What's most important for me is that I know I have a lot of support, especially from my UK fans.
"I go to all these countries and I do see my fellow-countrymen holding up the flag and it makes me very proud to see that. All the other stuff, you can put it behind you and forget about it."
Hamilton, who beat Ferrari's Brazilian Massa by a single point at Interlagos, was Spaniard Alonso's team mate and title rival at McLaren last season and the Briton has been the target of racial abuse from Spanish fans.
The governing International Automobile Federation launched an anti-racism campaign after blacked-up spectators appeared at a test session in Barcelona in February, while others shouted abuse at the driver.
Another controversy erupted before last weekend's title-deciding race when British newspapers highlighted hundreds of hate messages posted on a Spanish website targeting the Briton.
Hamilton's father Anthony said earlier this week that the racial taunts and abuse had made him doubt whether his son should be competing in the sport.
Comment 173 - 192 of 212
Lets just see what the boys from langley uncover, shall we. It may noy be very far at all. Eh Eh Eh
Rav A
Believe me boy Big Joe would rather not come to cess pit you crawl into at night but if he has to then he has to.
dr_yassam: Sorry spelt won as one, oh dear.
We also get in here a really sad person who uses the handle Rav A, mouron, etc. Be careful because he is a mental giant with an IQ of almost 0.5. Just wait this posting will cause an outpouring of abuse against me.
But Big Jessy is not an invention of that towering intellect.
"Dr? R U a psychologist?"
Hmmm, that's an interesting question. ;)
Bigbadmajolie, you wouldn't come to my shantytown. Too frightening for you, little @#$%.
Thanks Bill Mac, as a newcomer to this F1 section, that explains a lot. :)
lyth22..Agree at 99%.
Rav A
Big Joe knows you are now boy you just given yourself away. Big Joe will be visting with ya soon boy.
dr_yassam...Dr? R U a psychologist?
m.e. jenner... (post #178)... i hadn't thought about how lucky hamilton was to have a dad like anthony AND to be 'adopted' by daddy ron dennis at the tender age of 10... sheez, what was i thinking... thanks, again!! =;-))
Bigbadmajolie, just shut up and put a banana in your mouth.
dr_yassam: Please let me explain. Big Jessy has been coming to this site since Hammy one the world championship to put down in any way he can the achievements of that fine young man. In fact a whole load of continental europeans have been coming to this site to basically do the same thing. They always resort to racism which as you say does not make them the strong ones but the weak ones in body and mind.
The Big before his name is not because he is big it's simply to insult him, he has no idea what a Big Jessy is.
Stick around, it's fun.
Jessy M wrote: "I take it because I am a STRONG MAN".
Actually Jessy M, it's usually the WEAK who boast about being strong online, and it's usually the cowards, like yourself, who 'shout' the loudest because of the freedom to say in forums what you wouldn't say face to face. It's also amusing that you say you can "take it" and yet you're the person here ranting and raving like a child. So you're far from being an example of someone who can take it, and therefore you only reveal yourself to be a weak individual.
Hi there Big Jessy you spanish @#$% it's your old buddy Big Joe here. Big Jessy you really gonna p1ss of these limeys you know. But I think your doing a big thing, being black yourself Big Jessy and then having a go at black men. LIKE OUR PRESIDENT, so just layoff or BigJoe will get the boys at Langley to track you down and Big Joe will come a'visitin' boy. Eh Eh Eh
Jessy M: Hey sh1tface you are really gonna be popular over here you keep that up. I'll give you the benefit f the doubt cos' your obviously French or something, but your @#$% English is making you look a real dipstick.
Why does this site attract so many seriously disturbed people? People like nelson23aa really kid themselves if they think they are better than anyone irregardless of skin colour.
Well said dryassam. But I do understand why some people think that just by ignoring it or not talking about it Racism will somehow disappear. This is not the case. For me I have always found it strange that a person can hate another without even knowing that person just because they are another colour or from a different country. Its very odd maybe that is the way of mankind. I hope not. One Race The Human Race. So Say We All. Repeat as many times as you want.
lyth22, I understand what you're saying, but you make it seem like racism is the fault of the media, which is not the case. The media mention Lewis' race because he's the FIRST black F1 champion. Hence it's big news. The media mentions Obama's race because he's the FIRST black American president. Again, big news. The same would happen for ALL firsts like this, such as the first female American president, or the first blind F1 champion (yeah, joking). So let's not loose sight of the fact that all racism is unacceptable and would exist with or without the media drawing attention to it.
If every kid had a Dad like Anthony, perhaps more children - whatever their ethnicity -could forge a purposeful way through life. Too many kids today are fatherless, or have more than one - for whatever reason.
Lewis is the only black racing champion because British society does not give chance to other black children. The question is how many black children are expelled from school? Loads. In fact, Lewis himself was almost expelled. So, here we are then.
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