Mercedes condemn fan behaviour after racist abuse towards Hamilton

Mercedes have issued a statement addressing racist abuse that has been aimed at Lewis Hamilton through their social media channels.

Comments left on Mercedes' Twitter, Facebook and Instagram posts after the British Grand Prix, which Hamilton won after a controversial collision with Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the opening lap, have forced Mercedes to issue a statement condemning the nature of some poster's comments.

"During, and after, yesterday's British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was subjected to multiple instances of racist abuse on social media following an in-race collision," said Mercedes' statement.

"Formula 1, the FIA, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms. These people have no place in our sport and we urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.

"Formula 1, the FIA, the drivers and the teams are working to build a more diverse and inclusive sport, and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated."

The abuse comes just days after the initial report into the Hamilton Commission's findings into how motorsport can become more diverse and inclusionary, and also just a week after English football players were subjected to racial abuse online after their defeat to the Italian national team at the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Hamilton has consistently used his platform as a seven time World Champion to speak out against racial inequality, and lended a voice of support to Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho after the Euro 2020 final when the three players missed penalties.