Hamilton incident ‘not racism’ – official

(GMM) The boss of motor racing in Spain has denied that Barcelona was the scene of racism against Lewis Hamilton at the February winter test.

F1's governing body on Thursday launched the 'EveryRace' campaign – renamed from the intended 'Racing Against Racism' – as a direct response to the group of spectators who abused Lewis Hamilton.

But Carlos Gracia, president of the Real Federacion Espanola de Automoviliso (RFEDA), is adamant that Spain should not be portrayed as a racist country.

"I wouldn't even call it a scandal, I would call it four or five yobs," he told PA Sport at the Circuit de Catalunya, referring to the Fernando Alonso fans who painted their faces black and wore t-shirts bearing the words 'Hamilton's family' in February.

"I don't even think it was racism," Gracia added.

"They did not at any time mean to offend Hamilton. It was carnival at the time."

He also accused the press of worsening the scandal.