Formula 1 has condemned three-time world champion Nelson Piquet for using racially abusive language about Lewis Hamilton.

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The 69-year-old Brazilian, who won the world title in 1981, 1983 and 1987, used a racially offensive term in referring to Hamilton on a podcast. 

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An F1 statement said: "Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society. 

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Hamilton's team Mercedes said: "We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind. 

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It added: "His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1." 

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Piquet was discussing the accident between Hamilton and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen on the first lap of last year's British Grand Prix. 

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Lewis has spearheaded our sport's efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off track. 

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During his driving career, he publicly questioned Ayrton Senna's sexuality and called his rival "the Sao Paulo taxi driver". 

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This weekend's British Grand Prix is the first anniversary of the incident, which was one of a series between the two drivers 

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as they disputed last year's world title - a championship decided in controversial circumstances at the 2021 finale in Abu Dhabi. 

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