Lewis Hamilton is targeted by racists online after his British Grand Prix win and accused of being 'disrespectful and unsportsmanlike' for celebrating the victory while F1 title rival Max Verstappen was in hospital after a huge first-lap crash with the Mercedes driver. Lewis Hamilton has received racist abuse online after winning the British Grand Prix after a dramatic first lap crash with Max Verstappen.
Verstappen, 23, was taken to hospital after his Red Bull car was tagged by the Mercedes as it overtook on entry to Silverstone's Copse corner at 180mph on Sunday.
The Dutch driver, who later described it as a "dangerous move", was sent out of control and crashed into the wall, leaving Hamilton, 36, with a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision.
In the hours after the race, racial slurs and monkey emojis appeared on the Mercedes team's celebratory Instagram post.
Formula One, the FIA and Mercedes released a joint statement "condemning this behaviour in the strongest possible terms".
"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," they wrote.
"These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions."
Poster Comment:
In the week leading up to the 2018 German Grand Prix, Hamilton signed a two-year contract with Mercedes, reported to be worth up to £40 million per year, making him the best-paid driver in the history of Formula One.
What a whiney little bitch.