| Things have been a bit stormy in the | | | | |
| Mediterranean of late as Spanish Grand Prix | | | | With McLaren, he chalked up 17 starts, 16 |
| fans racially abused British driver Lewis | | | | finishes, and 12-placings at the podium last |
| Hamilton. | | | | year. He won six pole-positions and was the |
| | | | victor in four Grand Prix races. These |
| The first weekend in February 2008 saw teams | | | | victories occurred in Canada, the United |
| testing on the Circuit de Catalunya in | | | | States, Hungary, and Japan. |
| Barcelona. These teams are preparing for the | | | | |
| upcoming Grand Prix season, which commences | | | | Hamilton started racing at age eight and at |
| with the Australian Grand Prix in March. | | | | age ten won his first British Kart |
| | | | Championship. At age thirteen he became the |
| Some Spanish racing fans hurled taunts, | | | | first (and still the only) teenager to sign a |
| insults, and racial slurs at Lewis Hamilton | | | | contract with a Formula 1 team. |
| during his walks to the track. There is much | | | | |
| hatred and resentment seething in Spain | | | | This achievement came about when |
| because of Hamilton's rivalry with Fernando | | | | Mercedes-McLaren signed him to their Young |
| Alonso. | | | | Driver Support Programme. He continues to |
| | | | impress and develop as a racecar driver. |
| Alonso is a Spaniard and a former teammate of | | | | |
| Lewis at Mercedes-McLaren racing. Although he | | | | The racism in Spain aimed at Lewis spurred |
| is now part of the Renault team, Alonso felt | | | | Gerry Sutcliffe, a British government sports |
| McLaren gave preferential treatment to | | | | minister, to take the FIA to task. He wants |
| Hamilton last year. Alonso expected special | | | | to see and end to this cycle of abuse against |
| status with McLaren and was upset when he | | | | British athletes when they visit Spain. |
| didn't receive it. In last year's driver | | | | English soccer players were targets of racial |
| competition, Alonso finished directly behind | | | | abuse in the past few years during games in |
| Hamilton in the standings. | | | | Spain. |
| | | | |
| There were televised reports of some | | | | Rio Ferdinand, a leading Manchester United |
| spectators wearing monkey suits and slinging | | | | and England player, issued a call for |
| racist remarks at Hamilton. Hamilton was also | | | | rectifying action from F1's governing body |
| the target of booing. | | | | over the Hamilton incident. He played for |
| | | | England when they met Spain in a soccer match |
| Spain's motorsport authorities condemned the | | | | in Madrid in 2004. To Spain's shame then |
| behavior of these so called 'fans'. | | | | black players were subject to verbal abuse |
| Anticipating trouble, the Catalunya | | | | throughout the match. |
| authorities had extra security on hand for | | | | |
| the practice sessions. They also had fencing | | | | Formula 1 wants to solve this problem quickly |
| around the team areas for protection. | | | | and take measures so it doesn't happen again. |
| | | | They do not want the aura of 1985 lingering |
| Spain's racing community fears Formula 1 will | | | | over their sport. In 1985, there was much |
| take severe action against them if this abuse | | | | controversy as F1 decided to continue their |
| continues. The FIA (International Automobile | | | | race in South Africa that year. |
| Federation) has the power to suspend races in | | | | |
| Spain. They could cancel the Spanish Grand | | | | South Africa's apartheid policy caused many |
| Prix if they feel further volatile and | | | | international sporting events to avoid the |
| repugnant behavior will manifest itself. The | | | | country some decades earlier. The apartheid |
| European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain could | | | | system segregated people by race and |
| face a similar fate if these disruptions | | | | discriminated against blacks. |
| continue. | | | | |
| | | | Formula 1 insisted in racing in South Africa |
| Many Spaniards dislike, and even hate | | | | 1985 under apartheid. It became a blemish on |
| Hamilton because of his rivalry with Alonso. | | | | their history, and it is something they do |
| He is a firm favorite though in the wider | | | | not want to repeat. |
| world of Formula 1 due to his racing skills. | | | | |
| | | | Formula 1 moves on with preparations for the |
| Lewis Hamilton, born in Stevenage, UK, is | | | | 2008 season. There is concern Spain's two |
| twenty-three years old. The 2007 Australian | | | | Grand Prix races could be in jeopardy if |
| Grand Prix saw his debut on The Formula 1 | | | | racist fans do not curb their behavior. |
| circuit. | | | | |