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[Martin]

I don't have full detail, but it seems that F.A. recently gave an interview in Spain where he, apparently, suggested that Lewis H. partly caused the racist demonstration against him by fueling the feud between himself & F.A., and anyway that sort of thing is all part of racing and that he should stop complaining and get on with the job. F.A. also, apparently said that he (F.A.) was "given the finger" when on a victory lap. (not sure which race)

My response would be
1. It is no normal part of F1 that I have ever seen, and if it is then it must be stamped on hard by the FIA.
2. Whats this about Hamilton complaining? I don't think that L.H. has made any public comment on it has he?

Does anyone have any more detail?

Yesterday I saw a UK interview where F.A. seemed to be saying that L.H. is a great rookie driver and has the potential to win the WDC this year!!!

Whats going on

[8-ball]

I saw this story on sky news website. Apparently Alonso said that he was given the finger by a fan after he won in Monza. He said you have to shrug it off because "That's sport". Lewis made no comment on the racism he suffered in Spain but Alonso said he should have expected jeers when he said "Alonso showed me how not to behave as a world champion". Alonso did not defend the racists however. No matter how you feel about a driver, team principal or FIA president there is a line you don't cross. A minority of Spanish fans crossed the line and the FIA should punish them by removing one race from Spain. I know the most of the Spanish people are not Hamilton fans but racial abuse is never justified.

[Martin]

I saw this story on sky news website. Apparently Alonso said that he was given the finger by a fan after he won in Monza. He said you have to shrug it off because "That's sport". Lewis made no comment on the racism he suffered in Spain but Alonso said he should have expected jeers when he said "Alonso showed me how not to behave as a world champion". Alonso did not defend the racists however. No matter how you feel about a driver, team principal or FIA president there is a line you don't cross. A minority of Spanish fans crossed the line and the FIA should punish them by removing one race from Spain. I know the most of the Spanish people are not Hamilton fans but racial abuse is never justified.

Given the finger by 1 fan? Blimey, he must have good eyesight if he could see that detail from the cockpit of an F1 car. I had assumed that 100s of people were doing it. F.A.keeps coming across as a very spoiled child doesn't he?.
I'm not sure about Spain losing a GP though. The vast majority of the Spanish people would not have done what the morons did, and they are no more biased towards F.A than the Brits are towards L.H., its natural to support your countryman, and its an unfortunate truth that the bottom of the market press, in most countries, creates biased stories to satisfy its own stupid readers.
There are serious cost implications for Berni and the FIA in cancelling a race so I don't think that it will happen anyway, but I do think that the circuit operators should be given a heavy fine for allowing the morons in, as they apparently arrived at the circuit dressed like that, but I am not sure if the FIA has the power to do that.

[Denthúl]

I saw this story on sky news website. Apparently Alonso said that he was given the finger by a fan after he won in Monza. He said you have to shrug it off because "That's sport". Lewis made no comment on the racism he suffered in Spain but Alonso said he should have expected jeers when he said "Alonso showed me how not to behave as a world champion". Alonso did not defend the racists however. No matter how you feel about a driver, team principal or FIA president there is a line you don't cross. A minority of Spanish fans crossed the line and the FIA should punish them by removing one race from Spain. I know the most of the Spanish people are not Hamilton fans but racial abuse is never justified.

Given the finger by 1 fan? Blimey, he must have good eyesight if he could see that detail from the cockpit of an F1 car. I had assumed that 100s of people were doing it. F.A.keeps coming across as a very spoiled child doesn't he?.
I'm not sure about Spain losing a GP though. The vast majority of the Spanish people would not have done what the morons did, and they are no more biased towards F.A than the Brits are towards L.H., its natural to support your countryman, and its an unfortunate truth that the bottom of the market press, in most countries, creates biased stories to satisfy its own stupid readers.
There are serious cost implications for Berni and the FIA in cancelling a race so I don't think that it will happen anyway, but I do think that the circuit operators should be given a heavy fine for allowing the morons in, as they apparently arrived at the circuit dressed like that, but I am not sure if the FIA has the power to do that.

Whilst I don't think they should have a race taken away, if it were to happen, it would not happen until next season anyway. I guess there is a small part of me that would hope that Catalunya was removed from the calendar and replaced with a more challenging track, but only little and the people of Spain don't deserve to be punished for the actions of a few fools.

I do agree with you that the press in both countries are biased, and the British fans' disliking of Alonso is just the same as the Spanish fans' disliking of Hamilton. The only difference between the two incidents is that it happened in Spain and was Spanish fans. I'm quite certain that if the circumstances (for example, Jenson Button being paired with a driver from Japan or Africa or soemwhere like that and the same sort of thing happening as it did with the McLarens) were right then the same thing would have happened here.

[8-ball]

You are both right about the press coverage and it is hard to know who exactly is in the right as the UK press are biased in favor of Hamilton. I say that they should be stripped of a race because this is not the first time racial abuse has happened. The england team were subjected to it as well as Samuel Eto of Barcelona. Racism in sport is a minority in Spain but it is much more of a problem there than in the UK

[McLaren Fan]

Racism in sport is a minority in Spain but it is much more of a problem there than in the UK

True. Spain (and France) have a few issues with racism. It's a scandal how their government continue to deny it and pass it off as banter. Regardless of feud between Alonso and Hamilton, racism did not have to be brought into the matter. They could've called Hamilton a w***er or something to express their disgust at his character. Hamilton being black didn't automatically make him offend Alonso.

[7UpJordan]

Provocation or not, that's still no excuse for racism. Alonso still sounds like a sore loser. Anyone want to take a bet on him trying to take out Hamilton on purpose when being lapped this year?

[Jensonb]

Racism is terrible, and I rail against it, but punishing the majority for the actions of the few is never acceptable.

@7Up: I think you seriously underestimate the mental strength of Fernando. I think he's probably over it now he's not in the same team as Lewis.

[EwanM]

Racism shouldn't be tolerated anywhere in society, not to mention sport.
End of...

As for Alonso, he'll rise again... much to Hamilton's dismay (H)


7up just wanna ask ur opinions on the BBC?, off topic. I laughed when I read that part of ur sig, right on!

[f1ea]

I think you seriously underestimate the mental strength of Fernando. I think he's probably over it now he's not in the same team as Lewis.

Even if he were over it, he could go right back 'under' when Lewis gets some podiums and/or wins, and Alonso sees himself merely fighting for points. Lewis will probably continue his mouth/psych attacks on Alonso as he has well discovered his weakness...

I believe Renault can make a comeback to podiums sometime around mid-season, as Alonso has proven his ability to find the extra second to his cars, but Alonso's comeback could be dependent on him being able to keep his head if he isn't battling for wins from the get go. We'll see.

[Gibraltar is Spain]

which racist demonstration? as he's black no one can shout at him? c'mon!

[texasmr2]

which racist demonstration?

I also would like to know?

as he's black no one can shout at him? c'mon!

It was more than just shouting. Do some research and you will get the full view/story of the racism that was spat toward's Lewis.

[7UpJordan]

7up just wanna ask ur opinions on the BBC?, off topic. I laughed when I read that part of ur sig, right on!

I posted this on the "TV Coverage" topic.

After watching the FA Cup Replay between Middlesboring and Sheffied United tonight on BBC's Match of the Day, I feel more grateful than ever that James Allen isn't as big a prat as the commentators on the BBC were, constantly brown-nosing Middlesboring and pronouncing players' names wrong and just being slappers.

[Martin]

which racist demonstration? as he's black no one can shout at him? c'mon!

Of course you can shout, its what was shouted and what clothes were worn that is the dispute, you seem to think that what went on was OK.

Are you Spanish?

Are you one of the morons that was at the meeting?

I think that most Spanish people would disapprove of your inference that what happened to Hamilton was OK.

PS. Gibraltar is British - like it or not.

[McLaren Fan]

PS. Gibraltar is British - like it or not.

Indeed, the people even voted to remain a British territory and, in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, Spain ceded to Britain perpetually, although repeatedly attempted to reclaim it and repeatedly failed, dishonoring the treaty. Get over it. In terms of the whole forum, I don't feel people should be allowed political usernames for precisely the reason that this thread has gone off topic.