Spanish Fans' Website Aims Abuse at Hamilton
The FIA have condemned a Spanish website which invites fans to puncture Lewis Hamilton's tires on a virtual track
A Spanish website containing abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton was condemned yesterday by the FIA, motor sport's governing body. The name of the website, pinchalaruedadeHamilton, means "burst Hamilton's tyre" and its home page features a graphic in which nails and tin-tacks are strewn on the Interlagos circuit, where he will attempt to win the world championship in the Brazilian grand prix on Sunday.
The site claims to have had more than 21,000 visitors, and is a continuation of the vendetta begun 18 months ago by supporters of Fernando Alonso, who joined the McLaren team as reigning world champion at the start of the 2007 season but found himself embroiled in a battle against a young English team-mate who is formula one's first mixed-race driver.
Alonso's ignominious departure at the end of the season enraged his Spanish fans, and when the formula one teams went to Spain for pre-season testing Hamilton was greeted by racist insults and the sight of a group of Spanish fans with blackened faces wearing Afro wigs. The FIA's response was to fine the circuit and to institute an anti-racism campaign.
Dislike of Hamilton, interpreted by his supporters as the product of a resentment of his success and self-confidence, has not been hard to find in the formula one paddock this season. As the battle between Hamilton and Felipe Massa for this year's title approached its climax, Alonso said that he would be happy to help Massa defeat his rival. The boss of Alonso's Renault team, Flavio Briatore, remarked recently that Hamilton is "no Muhammad Ali".
"The FIA's position is very clear," the governing body said in a statement yesterday, reacting to the content of the website. "Discrimination and prejudice can have no place in sport or society. Everyone in our sport will join us in condemning these abusive and hateful comments."
A McLaren spokesman added: "We've seen today's statement from an FIA spokesman, and we can only echo it."
The domain name is registered to a company called Tequila Spain and a note on the website says the owners are not responsible for the comments it contains.
The site claims to have had more than 21,000 visitors, and is a continuation of the vendetta begun 18 months ago by supporters of Fernando Alonso, who joined the McLaren team as reigning world champion at the start of the 2007 season but found himself embroiled in a battle against a young English team-mate who is formula one's first mixed-race driver.
Alonso's ignominious departure at the end of the season enraged his Spanish fans, and when the formula one teams went to Spain for pre-season testing Hamilton was greeted by racist insults and the sight of a group of Spanish fans with blackened faces wearing Afro wigs. The FIA's response was to fine the circuit and to institute an anti-racism campaign.
Dislike of Hamilton, interpreted by his supporters as the product of a resentment of his success and self-confidence, has not been hard to find in the formula one paddock this season. As the battle between Hamilton and Felipe Massa for this year's title approached its climax, Alonso said that he would be happy to help Massa defeat his rival. The boss of Alonso's Renault team, Flavio Briatore, remarked recently that Hamilton is "no Muhammad Ali".
"The FIA's position is very clear," the governing body said in a statement yesterday, reacting to the content of the website. "Discrimination and prejudice can have no place in sport or society. Everyone in our sport will join us in condemning these abusive and hateful comments."
A McLaren spokesman added: "We've seen today's statement from an FIA spokesman, and we can only echo it."
The domain name is registered to a company called Tequila Spain and a note on the website says the owners are not responsible for the comments it contains.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Glock Treads in Hamilton's Tracks With Promotion to Formula One
- Motor Racing: Sensational Hamilton Powers to Pole Position
- Motor Sport: The Brain Rewiring and Supercharging That Makes Hamilton a Master
- Motor Sport: Rain Threatens to Turn Hamilton's Monaco Dream Into a Nightmare
- Formula One: Anthony Hamilton Talks to Alan Henry
- Formula One: Lewis Hamilton: 'if I End Up Alongside Alonso It Won't Intimidate Me'
- Rain Falls on Massa's Parade in the Finale to End All Finales
- 'He Wanted to Win When He Was Eight. And He Did'
- Hamilton Claims Title Glory in Remarkable Finish
- The Loner of the Pack
- THE Loner Of The Pack
- Hamilton's Fate Rests on a Clean Getaway
- Website Used to Abuse Lewis Hamilton Owned By Global Ad Agency
- Hamilton Struggles As Alonso Leads Practice in Brazil
- Mature Hamilton Will Not Try to Play the Hero, Says Whitmarsh
- This Weekend's Race Will Be Different to Last Year, Says Hamilton
- Hamilton Sets Fastest Time in China
- Hamilton Relives His Chinese Grand Prix Nightmare
- Reckless Hamilton Should Now Take a History Lesson in Respect
- Hamilton's Title Charge in a Spin As He Sees Chief Rival Massa Crank Up the Pressure