Max Verstappen says Nelson Piquet is "definitely" not racist, despite the Brazilian having used a racial slur against Lewis Hamilton in an interview.
Max Verstappen says Nelson Piquet is "definitely" not a racist, despite the Brazilian having used a racial slur against Lewis Hamilton in an interview.
Verstappen, who is currently dating Piquet's daughter Kelly, described the three-time world champion as "a really nice, quiet guy" who used a "not correct" word when talking about Hamilton.
"I've spent a bit of time with Nelson - more than the average person in general - and he's definitely not racist," Verstappen told the media at Silverstone.
"In fact, he's a really nice, quiet guy. The word he used - even though there are different kinds of cultures and it's probably something they used to say when they were younger - was not correct."
"He knows that himself. I believe he doesn't need me to tell him what is right or not. Let it be a lesson not to use that word in the future because it is quite offensive."
"That can be interpreted in two ways; people choose the bad side and of course it really gets blown out of proportion."
There are reports that Piquet could be banned from the Formula One paddock after the incident, and Verstappen is against that.
"People are calling him a racist now and I believe he is not, but of course I totally agree that you can't use those words," he continued.
"I think it's better to open a conversation than to ban people. You don't improve the situation by doing that, you don't help what you are trying to exercise. It's better to have a conversation."
"I don't think he should be banned from the paddock - especially since he is a three-time world champion."