"There's a racial element there": Lewis Hamilton criticizes FIA president for 'we're not rappers' remark

Lewis Hamilton has criticized FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem's statement comparing F1 drivers to "rappers." The latter had suggested that F1 drivers should not be using swear words while communicating with their teams during races.

The FIA President said he feels that drivers should maintain a proper code of conduct because of the publicity of the sport. Talking about the frequent expletives they use while talking with teams on live radio, he stated that the sport needs to be different from "rap music."

"We have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music," he told Motorsport.com. "We're not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That's them and we are [us]."

Lewis Hamilton claimed that it was stereotypical to point out "rappers."

"I don't like how he expressed it," Lewis Hamilton said. "Saying rappers is very stereotypical and if you think about it, most rappers are black and that really kind of points it towards, when it says: 'We are not like them'. So I think those are the wrong choice of words. There is a racial element there."

While Hamilton did not provide a clear perspective on whether or not he supports Ben Sulayem in drivers not using the F-word during the races, other drivers have expressed their concerns regarding the same.

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2024 F1 championship contenders give their opinions on 'F-word' usage amid Lewis Hamilton row

Championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris gave their opinions (via the Guardian) on using swear words on team radio. The Red Bull driver explained that using such words shouldn't be surprising because the drivers are not "five-year-olds."

"I couldn’t even say the f-word, I mean it’s not even that bad right? I mean the car was not working, the car is effed and then, [it’s] excuse me for the language,” he said. “Come on, what are we? Five-year-olds? Six-year-olds? Even if a five-year-old or six-year-old is watching, they will eventually swear anyway even if their parents won’t or they will not allow it."

Meanwhile, his challenger Lando Norris explained that there are other sports as well where players use rough words. He also claimed to find it "cool and exciting."

"When I listen to it, I find it cool and I find it exciting," he said. "It’s not just nice, gentle, soft language that people are using. So, I’m sure there’s plenty of other sports and things you can go watch if that’s what you want to hear."

This has been a big issue in F1. During the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, now-former F1 driver Sebastian Vettel defended Lewis Hamilton. The latter was asked about something he had said to Max Verstappen as he battled him during the race. Vettel argued that it isn't fair because the drivers are full of adrenaline. Moreover, he claimed that if footballers had a mic in front of them all the time, they wouldn't speak all nice words, either.