Formula One and the Mercedes team have condemned a rash of racially offensive messages sent at seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on social media.
In the aftermath of the race, Hamilton, who won the British Grand Prix on Sunday, was abused.
After a lap one incident with championship leader Max Verstappen, the Mercedes driver was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.
Formula One, Mercedes, and the governing FIA issued a joint statement calling on those guilty for the abuse to be “held accountable for their actions.”
“During, and after, yesterday’s British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was subjected to multiple instances of racist abuse on social media following an in-race collision,” the statement read.
“Formula 1, The FIA and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
“These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.”
The crash allowed Hamilton to close the gap in the drivers’ championship, but was heavily criticised by Verstappen’s Red Bull team.
Hamilton’s victory was called “hollow” by team principal Christian Horner, while Verstappen called Hamilton’s post-race celebrations “disrespectful” because he was still in the hospital.
Hamilton led Formula One’s drive to publicly speak out racial abuse and inequity in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in the United States.
Since the start of the 2020 season, the drivers have gathered in solidarity before each race to protest inequality.
During these protests, many of the drivers, including Hamilton and Australian Daniel Ricciardo, take a knee.
“Formula 1, the FIA, the drivers and the teams are working to build a more diverse and inclusive sport, and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated,” the statement continued.
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