The racism that seems to have been recently targetted at Lewis Hamilton seems to have been going on for some time, with the top racing driver receiving racist comments at the 07 Shanghai Grand Prix, not from Chinese supporters, but from Spanish fans. Whats wrong with this group of Spaniards, do they believe racism is acceptable in Spanish sporting tournaments?
LONDON - McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton suffered racist abuse from Spanish Formula One supporters in China last year as well as at the recent Barcelona test, the head of the sport’s governing body revealed on Sunday.
International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley told Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper that he had been told by Hamilton’s father of incidents at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai last October.
“Anthony Hamilton told me that there were some people in China who were also appallingly abusive; not Chinese fans, but people who had travelled from Spain,” he said.
The FIA warned Spanish circuits and the Spanish authorities after Hamilton was insulted by the crowd at the Circuit de Catalunya this month that the country risked being stripped of its races if such behaviour continued.
Mosley reminded Spanish fans that they too could be punished.
“If they went to Australia and did something like that, they could get arrested and we would know their names and passport numbers and they wouldn’t get into another country,” he said.
Another interesting concept would be how Shanghai police would deal with future outbursts of racism at the Grand Prix, or life in general, are Chinese police taught how to deal with racism?
Why would Chinese police be taught how to deal with racism? “Racism doesn’t exist in China.” said with my party hat on whilst clutching a red book.
I forgot about that - I remember being taught (read: drummed into me) that China has 55 nationalities, and they all live in harmony.
I live in New York City and racism either outright or subtle is a way of life here in the streets, school, and workplace. I have not seen cases where Asians would outright make racists remarks or jestures at people of other races. This type of racism comes from white, black, and hispanic people. At least , that is what I observe living in New York City. Many comments on auto enthusiast forums also have a racial overtone if you read between the lines. Many times you don’t have to read between the lines. Not to worry, racism never stopped any group, especially Asians from working hard, and advancing themselves. And this applies especially for the Chinese auto industry. I cannot wait till I can buy a Geely, Chery,Rowe or other car and drive it around New York.