/ 4 February 2008

Racists taunts could cost Spain its F1 races

Spain could lose both of its Formula One races following the racist taunting of driver Lewis Hamilton by spectators over the weekend.

Governing body the FIA said on Monday that the racial abuse aimed at Hamilton, Formula One’s first black driver, during testing at the Barcelona circuit could result in sanctions.

Under the FIA’s statutes, punishment can include removing races from the grand-prix calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix is scheduled for April 27 at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona, and the European Grand Prix at Valencia on August 24.

”We are going to be writing to the national sporting authorities in Spain on what happened over the weekend, and [from] that report we will be deciding on what steps will be taken,” the FIA said on Monday. ”Formula One is a global, multicultural sport — it does not have scenes like this in its history and doesn’t want to see scenes like this.”

Spectators aimed abusive gestures and shouted racist abuse at Hamilton (23) — who finished second in the drivers’ championship last year in his rookie season — when he moved between the McLaren motor home and the team’s garage at the Montmelo circuit on Saturday.

A group of spectators wore wigs, dark make-up and T-shirts with the words ”Hamilton’s family” scrawled on them.

”The truth is that I feel somewhat sad; I am in love with this country, and especially the city of Barcelona and this circuit, which is one of my three favourites,” Hamilton told Sportlifepress.com. ”The people in Spain have always been very warm with me, and even though I imagined what might happen it has not been pleasant.”

In Spain, Hamilton is widely blamed for Fernando Alonso’s failure to clinch a third straight championship last season after the Spaniard joined McLaren from Renault. Alonso, who has since rejoined Renault, finished third in the drivers’ standings.

”I would like them [the Spanish fans] to understand my position,” Hamilton said. ”The only thing that I have done is to try to give the best of myself and try to win the championship. At no point have I tried to deliberately prejudice Fernando, but the fight has been very tough and my image in Spain has been severely damaged.”

McLaren sought to downplay the incidents. ”McLaren has raced and tested on Spanish circuits for many years, and everyone connected with the team regards Spain and the Spanish people with great affection, Lewis included,” the team said in a statement.

Circuit staff erected barriers around the team’s paddock on Saturday while banners making references to Hamilton and team boss Ron Dennis were removed. The stands directly above McLaren’s garage were cleared to ensure no debris could be thrown down when the car returned to the pit lane.

Sunday’s testing was incident free, with Hamilton stopping to sign autographs for fans and pose for pictures.

”We controlled what happened,” circuit director Ramon Praderas said. ”That the public whistles or jeers seems normal to me, but what happened here was from a lack of class, something that has never happened before.”

Praderas said extra measures — increased security and more short-circuit video cameras — were already being planned for the Spanish Grand Prix. He said he had already requested a meeting with local police authorities to prepare.

”We could end up losing a lot [in the end] and, so, at the GP we will not tolerate any cases like the ones we saw this weekend,” he said. ”We will carry out security measures to the extreme because it worries us so much.”

Banners at testing in Valencia last month made remarks about Hamilton and Dennis, but did not take on a racist message. Those were subsequently removed by staff.

”We’ve never had a problem and we take all measures possible to ensure we never will,” Cheste circuit spokesperson Pablo Pernias said.

It is not the first time that Spanish sports fans have been accused of racist behaviour.

England soccer players were subjected to racist abuse during a friendly against Spain at Madrid in October 2004, only days after national team coach Luis Aragones made a racist remark about then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

FC Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o also attempted to leave the field after being subjected to monkey noises by Zaragoza fans during a league game in February 2005. — Sapa-AP