Racist Spanish F1 FansI have deliberately stayed away from the ‘racial’ issue surrounding Lewis Hamilton and with good reason; that’s not what F1 is about. However, the verbal bombs being thrown by press, FIA officials, track officials etc. amount to nothing more than political jousting and will solve nothing. How is it that this issue, an issue not new to Spain and other parts of the world, continues to be a political problem and not an ethical one.

I don’t wish to annoy anyone, but the racial obscenities thrown at Lewis Hamilton were to be expected as soon as he appeared in Spain for testing. The Spanish are very passionate about their sports including soccer, cycling and of course F1. If you have ever watched the Tour de France wind it’s way through Basque country or even near the northern Spanish border, you are all too familiar with the taunts and racial slurs thrown at the riders. Examples such as these can be substantiated and have been substantiated by other visiting athletes in other sports as well.

I’m not trying to take on the entire country of Spain, but I am taking on the fact that the ‘racial’ issue is the way some really ignorant fans express themselves. When the 2007 season came to a close and Fernando Alonso signed with Renault, the excuse to verbally abuse Lewis Hamilton was there. I expected this, and the FIA, Spanish officials, and track officials clearly did or they had their heads under a rock. This type of behavior following what some Spanish fans feel is disrespecting their sports icons they live for is ‘normal’ for them and has been allowed to continue. For racial comments to be allowed to be written in the Spanish sports daily Marca is an example and highlights my point.

Sure, these fan have been kicked out of events, but they accomplish what they want to do and then get kicked out. They may not be allowed back, but there are alway more to take their place.

Threatening the Spanish with loss of their grand prix won’t fix the problem and I seriously believe this is an idol threat. The grand prix should continue this year with added security, support from the FIA, and a serious look at the racial problem found in sport in that country.

Take a positive approach to this problem and deal with it without looking for votes.

This post is harsh and is directly aimed at some particularly ignorant Spanish fans and with good reason, I am talking about F1, not other countries and how they deal with other sports. Spain is not alone, but they are in the media right now.

Have your say, comments are certainly welcome.

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