Former Formula 1 driver Nelson Piquet has been fined around $950,000. Last year, footage surfaced showing him making racist and homophobic statements about Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton himself praised the government of Brazil for punishing these statements.
I still believe that we generally shouldn't be giving people that are just full of hate a platform," Hamilton told Sky Sports on Thursday ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Hamilton and Uganda
Hamilton, who was awarded Brazilian honorary citizenship last June, is currently the only black driver in the sport. The Briton has used his various platforms to promote human rights. Earlier this week, he used his Instagram account to condemn a new law in Uganda that puts citizens who identify as gay at risk of life imprisonment.
"I'd like to acknowledge the Brazil government. I think it's pretty amazing what they have done in holding someone accountable, showing people that it's not tolerated." The seven-time world champion said.