More anti-Hamilton racism in Spain
More than a year after last winter's incidents during pre-season testing at the same Circuit de Catalunya, pictures of a fan wearing shoe polish on his face and a McLaren t-shirt – presumably in derision of F1's only black driver Lewis Hamilton – were broadcasted ahead of the Spanish grand prix.
A FIA spokesperson said: "We are aware of it and we are looking into it."
The Paris body reacted furiously to the Barcelona testing incidents last year, launching an anti-racism campaign and warning that repeat occurrences could cost Spain its two grands prix.
A FIA spokesman said then: "Formula one is a global, multicultural sport and has never encountered such scenes before and will not tolerate them in future."
Also in the wake of the 2008 incident, operators of the Barcelona circuit said fans' banners and clothes would be checked at the gates.
05/10/09 (GMM) The specter of racism on Sunday again raised its head at the Circuit de Catalunya, more than a year after last winter's incident.
Then, the Spanish circuit was lucky to escape formal sanctions, after a group of testing spectators screamed foul insults, blacked out their faces and wore t-shirts bearing the words (Lewis) 'Hamilton's family'.
Race organizers promised there would be no recurrence, but the BBC broadcast of the Spanish grand prix showed images of at least one spectator in the crowd with a blacked out face.
Former McLaren driver David Coulthard said it was "not a good thing to see", while Eddie Jordan warned the FIA it needs to "come down heavily" on the venue because racism is "totally and absolutely unacceptable".
Referring to the 2008 testing incident, the former team owner added: "I think there is a suspended sentence still hanging over them because the FIA did come down very strongly, and rightly so."