June 19, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton stood for the national anthem after finishing third at the Montreal Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton understands Formula 1's goal of clearing profanity from the team's broadcasts, but he was angry at the way the situation was portrayed, ESPN reported Thursday.
Hamilton called it a “stereotype” with a “racial element” and took issue with FIA president Mohammed bin Sulayem calling offensive language in team broadcasts “rap music”.
“We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem told Motorsport.
“We're not rappers, you know. How many times a minute do they say bad things? We're not part of that. That's them, that's (us).”
As F1's popularity continues to grow, especially in the United States, there are more and more broadcasting eyes and ears during the circuit's 75th season. Live team radio communications between drivers and pit crew were used in the broadcast.
“As far as what he said, I didn't like the way he expressed it, he said rappers are very stereotypical,” said Hamilton, who is black and British. “You think most rappers are black. When it says we're not like them, it's really kind to point that out.
“So I think the words are wrong and there's a racial element to it. But like I said, I agree with the fact that I think (it needs) some cleaning up.”
Hamilton, 39, said he was guilty of using crude language on team radio when he was younger, but the seven-time world champion said he had matured. This is his 18th F1 season.
“I'm sure if you were punitive, people would stop it,” Hamilton said. “I don't know if that's necessary. I do think (the offensive language) is a little bit too much.”
Hamilton currently sits sixth in the drivers' championship heading into this week's Singapore Grand Prix. He has won two races this season, the British Grand Prix on July 7 and the Belgian Grand Prix on July 28.
Counting this week's race, there are still seven races on the F1 season schedule, two of which are held in the United States: on October 20 in Austin, Texas, and on November 23 in Las Vegas.
Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen currently leads the drivers' championship and is closing in on his fourth consecutive title.
–Scene-level media