Nelson Piquet has come under criticism for a comment that appeared on social media this week regarding newly-elected Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The three-time Formula 1 champion is a known supporter of da Silva’s opponent in the 2022 election Jair Bolsonaro, who has held office since 2019.
Da Silva’s narrow victory saw widespread protests across Brazil, with F1 moving to assert that next weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix would not be impacted by the disruptions.
A recent video circulating on social media saw Piquet state: “it is Lula in the cemetery,” referring to da Silva.
According to Fox Sports, the matter is being looked into by the federal prosecutor’s office in Brasilia, which will “investigate Piquet for alleged incitation to violence and for stimulating rifts between the military and other branches of power”.
Piquet has already been in the limelight this year for controversial comments, after a 2021 interview surfaced in which he used racist and homophobic language towards Lewis Hamilton.
Piquet later issued an apology, insisting that his words had been misinterpreted.
The 70-year-old is the father of Kelly Piquet, who is currently in a relationship with two-time F1 champion and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.
Piquet started over 200 grands prix during his F1 career, taking 23 wins and 60 podiums alongside his championship success.
what on earth has piquets opinions about a political figure, have to do with F1. he can say what he likes !
Everyone can say what they like, but that doesn’t make what people say right or appropriate.
Speech is not without consequences.
Don’t pretend there are no links to F1. He’x an ex F1 driver and he’s supporting a white supremacist (as does his daughter Kelly Piquet, the girlfriend of Max). Quite something considering what Nelson said about Lewis earlier and claimed he was mis-quoted.
What’s your problem with this being reported? Are you supporting Nelson Piquet here? No-one is forcing you to read this article so quit trying to tell people who to run their news sites.
Hey “the Atheist’ the loud bully!
Who do you think you are telling someone who’s opinion is not warranted.
And then audaciously, adding your opinion regarding so called “white supremo” come on, that’s simply your narrow opinion!
To be fair to Formula One, there is no suggestion in the story that they are getting involved with Piquet over this, it’s the prosecutor in Brasilia who is investigating him. I agree with you on the aspect of free speech, he is entitled to air his opinion, as is anyone else, and I don’t assess it as being either necesary or appropriate for the prosecutor to be intervening in the matter. Having said that, I don’t see why the famous, be they sportsmen, actors, musicians, or whatever else, think that their views on politics or any other subject outwith the area for which they have become famous should be of interest, credibility, or influence to the general public simply because they have the means to publicize them, and despite their freedom to express these views I tend very strongly to disregard them.
There are a number of these old farts with past F1 associations (you know who they are), who continually start their mouths before engaging their brains. I just with the media would treat them with the circumspection and/or contempt that their idiotic pronouncements deserve, rather than giving air time/print space to them.
Corrected post (arthritic typing fingers)
There are a number of these old farts with past F1 associations (you know who they are), who continually start their mouths before engaging their brains. I just wish the media would treat them with the circumspection and/or contempt that their idiotic pronouncements deserve, rather than giving air time/print space to them.