Dirty tricks and longed-for treats
Perhaps it is a spooky coincidence. Whatever it is, it is unacceptable. It is to be condemned.
On the eve of Halloween a Spanish website posted racially abusive and thuggish comments about ways in which Lewis Hamilton might be denied his first Formula 1 World Championship. In the tradition of Halloween, these people hide behind masks and they surely inhabit the darkest corners of our supposedly enlightened society.
Racial prejudice and discrimination has no place in Grand Prix racing, or in any other sport, and the FIA is to be congratulated for immediately condemning the comments made on the Spanish website the day before the Brazilian GP.
Just as the United States is on the verge of electing its first black President, and Grand Prix racing is likely to have its first black World Champion, there is still what the Americans are calling the ‘Bradley effect’. Or racial prejudice by any other name.
There are those in the US who say that Obama may lose at the last gasp because there are some who cannot bring themselves to vote for a black man as their President. While this now seems unlikely, it is also true that there are those who do not want a black racing driver to be crowned king of his chosen sport.
Well done McLaren for immediately condemning this kind of thinking. One wonders why this originated on a website in Spain. It is to be fervently hoped that there is no connection with fans of the great Fernando Alonso who, surely, would stop at very little on the track but who would not want to be associated with such old-fashioned and unpleasant thinking. Alonso is better than that.
All of us who love motor racing, who love the sheer speed and spectacle of Grand Prix racing, are looking forward to a great race in São Paulo, to a race that is fought out fairly and squarely between Ferrari and McLaren, between Massa and Hamilton, between Räikkönen and Kovalainen, should they be in a position to influence the success of their team-mates. Truly great sport inspires people.
Is this really too much to ask for? Or are we now so cynical, so soiled by the innuendo and insults that have blighted the past two seasons, that we cannot look at any part of it without a nod and a wink? I sincerely hope it is still possible to run a motor race, to have a clear winner and to leave, for once, the politics, the shenanigans and the ‘opinions of various stewards’ outside the circuit.
The climax of the 2008 season is big news. The events at Interlagos will be watched by hundreds of millions of people across the globe. All we want is for motor racing, and F1 in particular, to rise above itself, to show the world that it is still a great sporting spectacle.
In today’s world, with our economic and environmental challenges, this is absolutely vital. It is time for climate change in F1, and let us start now. It is that important. Let it be said, and written. In black and white.
Filed under: Blogs, Miscellaneous
Rob was brought up on racing, being taken to Goodwood as a small child and devouring his father’s copies of Motor Sport. During a career in newspaper, radio and TV journalism he created the ‘Track Torque’ motorsport show on radio and was Indycar commentator for Eurosport before co-founding the Festival of Speed and Revival events. He was marketing director of the Goodwood Road Racing Company.
Aleš Norský:
October 31st, 2008 2:59pm
Clearly, this sort of thing is sad and unnecessary. But if some of those guys are trying to attach themselves to Alonso, he cannot be viewed as responsible. Hopefuly the media won’t keep fueling this thing and it will burn itself out in the blogosphere rather sooner that later.
rob widdows:
October 31st, 2008 5:18pm
At lunchtime today we heard that the website has been closed down. Not before time.
Sao Paulo is humming, throbbing, with expectation. The drums will be out early and the samba will start soon after sunrise.
This boiling cauldron of a city is exploding with excitement.
On Sunday afternoon it will be the race, and not racism, that will have the world tansfixed.
This is how a season should reach its climax.
Hollywood could not improve on this.
RW
Filipe Amoroso:
October 31st, 2008 7:44pm
I recall British fans singing quite colourful anthems about Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna at Estoril ‘92. It was rude, abusive and good fun at same time. Senna fans just shrugged their shoulders, smiled, and came up with something similar. All was fine and everybody drank their Sagres together.
I think the majority of the abuse Hamilton is having is Spanish media induced ignorance about what happened last year. I believe it’s more personal than racist. Because Hamilton is black, he’s just an easier target. Because he’s British, these things have greater visibility.
I saw the site yesterday (an Alonso fan sent me the link, of course). I saw nothing wrong with it in itself, it was actually funny. The not so civilized people who wrote abusive comments are idiots, of course, but shutting down a site because of this is perhaps too much. Ignorance feeds on repression.
There have been far more enticing finales, but I hope this weekend the weather plays up and spices up things a bit. And Hamilton wins it.
Aleš Norský:
October 31st, 2008 7:50pm
I would have to agree that the British government getting themselves involved is a bit too much…
Rich Ambroson:
October 31st, 2008 7:52pm
I absolutely have tired of Hamilton’s ego and ill-chosen remarks about his strengths and similarities to Senna, and so on.
However, it is beyond sad, or disgusting to read about the site you describe. No matter how I may feel about Lewis Hamilton the racer (and it’s different now than it was the first five months or so he was in the sport last year, I’ll admit), I am sickened by that type of racial abuse. It is something best left behind in the 19th (and I have to admit, 20th) century.
Rich Ambroson:
October 31st, 2008 7:57pm
I do have to agree with both Filipe Amoroso and Aleš Norský. Though I would hope that soon we will live in a world where “people” by their own accord do not post such stuff, rather than have government intervention or actual repression.
As Rob said, “Sao Paulo is humming, throbbing, with expectation. The drums will be out early and the samba will start soon after sunrise.” I hope it is a classic event, and have to admit, I hope Sunday night the samba is in celebration of a new Brazillian WDC. Lewis is indeed a very talented young man. But Felipe has continually shrugged off the critics and surprised many.
May true sporting ethics prevail this weekend. Cheers!
rob widdows:
November 1st, 2008 11:24am
The applecart looks a litle unsteady on its wheels. But who, or what, will upset this ancient wagon?
Raikkonen? Alonso? Hamilton himself? Or the weather?
There was rain in the air for Friday practice, a dampness that had eyes staring skywards.
I hope it does not rain. This is a gig that looks it best in hot sunshine, the beginning of summer only adding to the fervour.
Anyway, really good to see you all ‘on line’ and yes, the government getting involved is extraordinary. You’d think they had more important things to do.
Have a great race! Whatever comes to pass, this one will surely not be dull. Hamilton claims this is just another race, that he is calm. Oh yeah?
RW
Ales Norsky:
November 1st, 2008 2:10pm
I too have grown tired of Hamilton’s entitlement attitude. But he is an excellent driver in the best car, so he will put this one in the bag tomorrow. Ferrari won’t get that lucky again.
UncleSpoon:
November 3rd, 2008 10:33am
Until that last corner of the last lap Ales, you were wrong. Really did seem Lewis was going out of his way to LOSE this title.
I grow weary of people coming out and condemning and saying “racism has no place in F1″. Racism has no place ANYWHERE and by banging on about how it has no place in F1, you’re giving these racist morons publicity.
Just ignore them. Do not even justify their worthless, bigoted existences with so much as a cursory glance.
UncleSpoon:
November 3rd, 2008 10:34am
Filipe: I hope you’re not assuming Alonso fan = racist there mate.
Filipe Amoroso:
November 3rd, 2008 12:52pm
UncleSpoon: of course not (?). As I said, I think it’s more personal than racial.