Hamilton Racism: Government Minister Wants Action Against Spanish Racists

Lewis Hamilton has had an astounding two seasons on the race track, but off the track, it has been quite a different story.  A Spanish website has caused uproar in the F1 word after it targeted Lewis Hamilton on a racial front.  Today saw the backing of British Government Minister, Andy Burnham, to find and prosecute the sites founder(s).

The website, called Pincha la Rueda de Hamilton (Puncture Hamilton's Tyre), has a mock-up of the Interlagos circuit and invites visitors to place sharp objects on teh track where they would like Hamilton to suffer a puncture.

One message on the site, from a man calling himself Carrillo, says, "Half-breed, kill yourself in your car."

Another, from "Alberto," says, "I hope you run over your dad in the first pit stop, Hamilton."

Burnham, the minister for culture, media and sport has urged his Spanish counterparts to take action against those responsible for racist attacks on Lewis Hamilton.

"This is a crucial race and the whole country will be behind him," Burnham told The Guardian newspaper.

"I'm very concerned to hear reports of sites potentially fuelling racist abuse.

"The authorities must take the toughest possible action against racism in sport."

British Broadsheet, The Guardian, also reported that the site—which has now been closed down—was owned by TWBA, which is part of Omnicom, the world's largest media services group.

The Website came about after some clashes between Hamilton and Spaniard, Fernando Alonso, last season when Alonso insisted he should be the team's number one.  Earlier in the week, Alonso insisted his grudge was with McLaren and not Lewis Hamilton personally, and he even defended the Brit over the racism.

"If it's true, obviously this is not possible (acceptable)," Alonso told Reuters.

"In 2008 we cannot have these kind of people in our world.  It's not only Formula 1, not only sport, it's normal life as well."

Some may argue that is website is only free speech, some say by it being closed down that it is a breach of human rights.  In my opinion, free speech is one thing, racism and racist abuse is something completely different—it's illegal!