Racial abuse was no joke, says Hamilton

LEWIS HAMILTON yesterday insisted he does not share the views of Bernie Ecclestone that the racist abuse he received this year should be dismissed as a “joke”.

Formula One supremo Ecclestone made the claim when asked about the insults directed at Hamilton during pre-season testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, near Barcelona, in February. Some spectators were pictured mocking the newly-crowned world champion by wearing wigs, dark make-up and T-shirts with the slogan ‘Hamilton’s Family’. In an attempt to defuse the row, Ecclestone declared it had been blown out of proportion and stated he did not understand why the scenes were insulting.

But Hamilton, the first black driver in Formula One history, refused to trivialise what happened.