Max Mosley has re-affirmed his threat to cancel this year’s two Grands Prix in Spain if there is any repeat of the racist abuse aimed at Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit de Catalunya last week.
He has also revealed Hamilton was racially abused by Spanish spectators at the Chinese Grand Prix:
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.
If Mosley had first heard of the problem back in October then one assumes the Spanish motor racing authority were warned about it. However he also pointed out only a small number of people have been involved so far:
If, as appears to be the case, a very small number of people are involved, it ought to be possible to stop it immediately. If it isn’t, then we have sanctions and we could pull the Grand Prix.
Although it does seem that the racist abuse was coming from a small section of the crowd, the FIA must show they are aware that tolerating it for any length of time will only encourage it to grow.
Furthermore if the FIA were to ignore it, Mosley could end up facing damaging questions relating to his father, who was the leader of the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s.
Judging by Max Mosley’s reaction so far I don’t think he has done anything to deserve it. Last week some members of the British press were calling for harsher penalties and suggesting the races were in no danger of being cancelled, but there seems to be a greater sense of perspective in recent reports.
McLaren and several other teams are testing at the Circuito do Jerez from Tuesday to Thursday this week (12-14th), and returning to the Circuit de Catalunya on the Tuesday to Thursday after (19-21st). (For more test dates see the F1Fanatic Google Calendar).
But it’s not just the organisers of the Spanish racers who need to be careful – racism is not only a problem Spain.
Photo copyright: FIA
Number 38
10th February 2008, 18:55
Oh yea, “people that traveled from Spain” (to China) and got close enough to be “abusive”.
We just can’t let this go, eh?
Where was that story 5 months ago?
It got quiet during the passed couple of days and now we’ve got to stir the pot again!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th February 2008, 19:22
I guess Hamilton senior thought a quiet word in the FIA president’s ear was a better way of dealing with it than going to the press. Or he made it up, but in light of recent events I’d be more inclined to believe the former.
Vertigo
10th February 2008, 20:18
This racism story is threatening to swallow up the 2008 season like Spygate did to the 2007 season. We’ve got to sort it out quickly and not casually trade threats like Mosley is doing.
carlos
10th February 2008, 20:30
People travelling from Spain to China just to be abusive? Maybe that is because the lack of circuits here in Europe.
A grand prix is not a test circuit, there is a lot of press and people there. I guess if Anthony observed that, the press would have known something about that abuse too, as well as the chinese police.
Eric M.
10th February 2008, 20:33
I wouldn’t regard the comments by Mosely as casual threats. They are very clear warnings that carry a lot of weight, and should, in my opinion, ensure that the Spanish race organizers do their utmost to prevent this from happening again. I think he has handled the situation correctly.
Architrion
10th February 2008, 21:06
What they want to prevent is Lewis to feel uncomfortable everywhere he goes. Maybe we would be perfect F1 fans if we support Lewis like a new kind of Brave New World’s epsilons….. It this boy can’t win the champ this year with all support he is receiving from Moxley I don’t know where will he end… NASCAR??????
I liked this guy, but after this issue and how he has managed it in comparison with what the “Nazi” Schu did when it was under pressure I feel the guy has stepped down the whole stair.
GARYC
10th February 2008, 21:19
I wonder if Max has asked Bernie’s permission to cancel the Spanish races. What a blow to BE’s pocket book that would be. It aint going to happen (but it should)
frecon
10th February 2008, 21:36
And where’s the limit? If something happens this week in Jerez, how mosley will judge if it’s organization’s fault?
With Ecclestone looking for make some room to the new GPs, i would be very worried if i were in the Montmelo’s directors shoes.
I hope not to be very pesimistic, but probably in this week test we could see some casuals, or neonazi trash looking for their “minute of glory”. People who never before watch a F1 race, but is on every single violent affair. This kind of people is no longer skin-heads, and nowadays is really hard to identificate them in controls.
I guess this week will be more journalists lookint at the stands than looking at the track, and if something happen again in 5 five minutes will be in the internet papers all over the world. I think is too soon to make a judgement. If there is a very little incident, british media ask for big responasbilities, spanish staff would say they control the situation inmediatly, Mosley would have problems either he punish or don’t. It’s a everybody loose situation.
They should close the circuit and make the test with no public.
Powerline 2008
11th February 2008, 1:37
If the FIA should decide to pull both races out of Spain, they can always have one in Indy & the other in LA. The FIA is always welcome to re-introduce F1 races in the US.
angler
11th February 2008, 4:23
Holy crap, everyone … and I DO mean “everyone”.
Let’s separate the chaff from the wheat, shall we?
Racism is a reality — everywhere.
It happened in Barcelona, and it’s happened elsewhere on the F1 circuit — and on EVERY OTHER CIRCUIT, NO MATTER THE RACE OR THE RACE — since the beginning of motorsports, not to mention “civilization”.
At this point — it’s more a political statement by those in any position to make one, than it is a global stance … which NO ONE in this picture is able to make with any credibility whatsofreakin’ever.
Hamilton is not the poster-child for “racism”. GET REAL.
Nico Savidge
11th February 2008, 6:04
On a lighter note, I think I’ve found the most ironic quote in Formula 1 history. Max Mosley said about the scandal, “We have a very wide discretion, but we have to be responsible and measured.”
Because if there’s one thing Mad Max Mosley is known for, it’s his responsible use of power…
Architrion
11th February 2008, 7:26
… and his wide discretion
Robert Mckay
11th February 2008, 8:43
“I wouldn’t regard the comments by Mosely as casual threats.”
But at the same time can you really see the European Grand Prix at Valencia cancelled before it’s debut? They’re hyping this race (along with Singapore) as two new “crown jewels” of F1. If I wanted to be cynical I would say the threats are for Barcelona alone, and even if that did get cancelled (which I doubt) then Valencia would be reinstated as it had given the fans “time to reflect” or something equally vague.
Anyway, how many people hurling racist abuse does it take to get a race cancelled? 10? 100? 1000? What is the number? It would be silly (and impractical anyway) to say all it takes is one person.
Architrion
11th February 2008, 10:03
I’m thinking on some funny situations that could occur from now on…. If we would like to ban Silverstone Grand Prix we know what we have to do… Just call some friends and take a wonderful trip on race weekend and throw some racist stuff on Hamilton… maybe some carnival customs could help. Grand Prix hunting season is now open…. good hunting
Alianora La Canta
11th February 2008, 10:23
I suppose we should be thankful that the British GP is not due to coincide with any holidays this year. Though testing could still be a danger…
Steven Roy
11th February 2008, 14:06
Architrion said
“I liked this guy, but after this issue and how he has managed it in comparison with what the “Nazi” Schu did when it was under pressure I feel the guy has stepped down the whole stair.”
How has Lewis managed it?
He has answered a few questions and said only good things about Spain and Barcelona.
I am fed up with people having a go at him as if he has done something criminal in the last twelve months. We have potentially on of the most exiciting drivers in the history of the sport and already we have people who will never do anything other than hate him. And hate him for no quantifiable reason.
There is a huge difference with Hamilton and Schumacher. Schumacher behaved like a thug on the track ramming drivers off the road right, left and centre and broke every rule he could get away with. He also refused any chance of having a competitive team mate. Lewis put himself up against Alonso who if you read all the pre-2007 season press was the best driver around and likely to take over from Schumacher as the long term number one.
I cannot see one thing Lewis has done that should generate a shred of animosity. He has done nothing that a competitive racing driver should not do.
Number 38
11th February 2008, 16:57
For Steven Roy……….you’ll have to search back several days to a posting I made about the Hamilton involvement. He was welcomed at Valencia but the following week made at least three swipes at Alonso which I clipped and dated. I seems the animosity started AFTER his remarks. His remarks were not “racist” but rather anti-Alonso. Now dear old Dad had a complaint at China…….handled it quietly, probably the better tact but isn’t it odd with all the media around Hammy no one else picked up on that? Me-thinks Dad is just piling on. And MadMax threatening to cancel races, oh sure with “restraint and discression”, can you see him cancelling the gem stone events , no chance; European races, he’d cancel them all but not where Bernie makes PROFIT !
The season starts this weekend, Daytona 500 !
Steven Roy
11th February 2008, 18:29
Drivers have always criticised other drivers. It is allowed and is perfectly acceptable behaviour. Despite all the accusations as far as I can see he has done nothing to justify people hating him. And as implied in my previous post I am stunned to find some of the people who claim to hate him were Schumacher fans.
As I have said elsewhere the Hamilton/Alonso spat pales into insignificance compared to Prost/Senna, Mansell/Piquet and Villeneuve/Pironi.
Arturo
11th February 2008, 19:55
Come on, this is too much!! Hamilton must stop calling his daddys each time he is in troubles. Like a spanish, I am ashemed of the racists insults, but this story again and again has no sense!
angler
11th February 2008, 22:22
Hi, Steven …
I think “hate” is too strong a term. I disrespect Hamilton to a fair-the-well for the way that he behaves, and for the choices he’s made. For example — moving to Switzerland to escape “fans”, then at first denying that was a tax dodge — meanwhile, he’s also pulling in quite a bit of money from English fan-sales of his premature glory story … etc. I simply think that he’s a twit, grin … but that has nothing whatsoever to do with what “color” he is.
For the record, I could never stand Schumacher, either, lol … but, what can I say — hubris sorta’ turns me off.
Powerline 2008
12th February 2008, 2:37
Give Max a break guys. He’s trying his best not to create another scandal for F1 this year. You’ve to appreciate his family background to understand this. His parents were heading the BUF movement before WWII & went to prison for it. They counted Hitler as a personal friend. I guess Max is determine to break with his pass. So give him a break.
Chris Johnson
12th February 2008, 21:23
What kind of a dumbass fan would travel all of the way from Spain to China, just to be an idiot and hurl insults at another driver? If Hamilton only wins two races this year, I hope it’s in Barcelona and Valencia. That would almost too good to hope for.
Dave
13th February 2008, 17:13
Guys,
I’m catalan and I’ve seen all footage available and there is no racial abuse at all, at least that has been caught by the cameras.
I first condemned the attacks and would do it again but that’s not the case: THERE WAS NO RACIST ABUSE!!! If Lewis had not been black the insults would have been the same, honestly. It looks like british media was just trying to sell more papers and probably it worked out.