30 May,2011 08:07 AM IST | | AFP
Lewis Hamilton suggested he was being victimised by the Formula One race stewards "because I am black" yesterday, after defending champion German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull won the Monaco Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old Englishman, world champion in 2008, told BBC that he felt victimised by events at recent races where he had been called up to be punished because of his aggressive and entertaining driving style.
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton ufffd who finished sixth in an incident-packed race leaving him 58 points adrift of Vettel - said he had been called before the stewards five times in the last six races.
"It's a frigging joke," he said.
Asked why this was happening to him, the McLaren driver said "maybe it's because I am black."
Hamilton complained that he had done his best to provide entertainment by going for his overtaking opportunities.
He said that Brazilian Felipe Massa had upset him in qualifying and then turned into him with his Ferrari during the race and added similar comments about the way in which Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams had turned into him when being passed in the final laps.
