Disgraced ex-F1 champion Nelson Piquet mocked the tragic death of Ayrton Senna as more damning footage emerges of the Brazilian in the wake of his Lewis Hamilton slurs.
Piquet was denounced by the Formula 1 world after a video emerged of the three-time world champion using a slang version of the n-word in Portuguese when referring to Hamilton. The comment came while he was referring to the crash Max Verstappen suffered at last year's British Grand Prix, after contact with Hamilton's Mercedes.
The 69-year-old released a public apology to the Brit, but insisted there was no racial intent behind what he said. "I would never use the word I have been accused of in some translations," he claimed.
But a second video surfaced on social media, in which Piquet used the word again. In a separate interview, the footage showed the Brazilian also make a homophobic remark when discussing how Nico Rosberg beat Hamilton to the 2016 drivers' title.
The latest damning video also comes in the form of an old interview, in which the topic of tragic F1 icon Senna comes up. Regarded as one of the greatest racers ever, Senna won three world championships before his life was tragically cut short when he died in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
In the clip, Piquet says in English: "Another journalist asked me 'being honest, who was the best, you or Senna?' I said 'I'm alive'." The interviewer and one other person on-screen appeared to laugh nervously at the poor-taste joke, before he replied: "That's harsh."
Meanwhile, Piquet has been accused of committing a racial crime by three Brazilian MPs. Socialism and Liberty Party members Aurea Carolina, Taliria Petrone and Vivi Reis want prosecutors to consider charges against the retired racer.
"Racism, which structures our society, needs to be fought everywhere," said former teacher Petrone, who represents Rio de Janeiro. And the MPs added: "Treating black human beings in a clearly pejorative way, as Mr Nelson Piquet does, goes against practices for implementing equality."
It is not currently clear if prosecutors in the capital Brasilia will act upon the request from the MPs. But lawyer Renan Gandolfi told local reporters Piquet could face a criminal probe, which could end with a jail term of up to three years plus a fine if criminally convicted.
