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“We are not rappers”: Hamilton criticizes association boss: “Racist element”

September 20, 2024

“We are not rappers”
Hamilton criticizes association boss: “Racist element”

Lewis Hamilton thinks: The world governing body boss has gone too far. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa — Lewis Hamilton thinks: The world federation boss has gone too far. Photo
© James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The head of the world motorsport association is once again attracting criticism. This time it is about his choice of words in the swear word debate. The Formula 1 record world champion is expressing his displeasure.

Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton (39) has criticized the president of the world motorsport association for his choice of words in the swear word debate and accused it of a “racist element”. FIA boss Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to reduce the amount of swearing in the TV broadcast of the racing series. “We are not rappers. How many times a minute do they say the F-word? We are not one of them,” Ben Sulayem told the trade magazine “Autosport” in an interview.

“I don’t like the way he expressed himself,” Hamilton, the only black driver in Formula 1, replied on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix. “Saying rapper is very stereotypical because most rappers are black. It suggests: we are not like them. So I think that is the wrong choice of words. There is a racist element there.”

The world association is concerned about the amount of insults coming from the drivers’ cockpits. In the Formula 1 TV signal, curses are overlaid with a beep via radio. Mercedes driver Hamilton is a strong advocate for diversity in motorsport. Ben Sulayem has already sparked criticism in the past with thoughtless comments.

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