Faced with an outcry in Britain and threats from the FIA, the sport’s world governing body, that both of the grands prix due to be held in their country this year could be cancelled, the Spanish motor sport authorities moved quickly yesterday to try to calm tempers over the racist abuse suffered by Lewis Hamilton at the weekend.
The British driver was booed and racially insulted by spectators during a Formula One test at the Circuit de Catalunya at Montmel?, on the outskirts of Barcelona. Some of the Spanish fans who taunted him wore wigs, had blackened their faces and wore T-shirts with the words “Hamilton’s family” on them.
The circuit authorities were forced to clear the stands opposite the McLaren Mercedes garage and racist banners were removed while the McLaren area of the paddock was sealed off to allow Hamilton to move around without being seen.
The chanting and insults directed at the 23-year-old from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, were condemned by politicians, anti-racist campaigners and sportsmen. Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, said that he would write to the FIA and to his Spanish counterpart to try to ensure that such behaviour does not happen again.
“I was shocked by those sickening images,” Sutcliffe said. “How on earth were fans dressed like this allowed into the circuit? Racism should not be tolerated and this is not the first time British sportsmen have been racially abused in Spain,” he added, in reference to the monkey chants that were directed at England footballers during matches in Spain in 2004.
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Rio Ferdinand, the Manchester United and England defender, also condemned the treatment of Hamilton. “I’m disappointed,” he said. “The T-shirts and slogans, the face-painting and stuff. There should be no room for that kind of stupidity and ignorance in sport.”
In Spain there was serious concern that this affair could result in the cancellation of the Spanish Grand Prix, due to be staged at the circuit in April, or the European Grand Prix, which is being staged for the first time on the streets of Valencia in August.
The FIA has made it clear to the Spanish authorities that not only does it regard racist behaviour by fans as unacceptable, it also wants the Spanish motor sport federation (RFEA) to demonstrate how it is going to ensure that it never happens again. An FIA spokesman said that he was appalled that people with blacked-up faces were allowed into the circuit in the first place.
In a statement, the RFEA said that preventative measures would be taken to stamp out racism. “Car racing is a sport where events that divert from cordiality between fans and drivers and teams will not be allowed. These kind of madmen, who confuse sporting rivalry with violence, must know that the Federation will have no tolerance with them,” the statement said.
Officials from the circuit pointed out that only a small minority of the 55,000 fans who attended the three-day test were involved in the abuse of Hamilton. However, the officials said that they strongly support the stance taken by the FIA and may consider legal action against those responsible.
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Hamilton was silent on the affair yesterday, but in remarks he made privately at the weekend, which were published in the Spanish media, he expressed dismay at what had happened. “The truth is I feel somewhat sad,” he was quoted as saying. “I am in love with this country and especially the city of Barcelona and this circuit, which is one of my three favourites. The people of Spain have always been very warm to me and, even though I imagined what might happen, it has not been pleasant.”
The attacks on Hamilton follow the bitter rivalry which developed last season between him and Fernando Alonso, his erstwhile Spanish team-mate at McLaren, who also did not comment.
The acid test for the Spanish authorities will come a week today when the next three-day Formula One test is staged at a circuit in Jerez, which Hamilton is due to attend.