'Racist' Brits are hypocrites for cheering Hamilton, blasts Spanish motor supremo

The 22-year-old Briton, who is Formula One's first black driver, can become the first rookie to claim the title if he sees off the threat of defending champion Fernando Alonso, who goes into the race four points in arrears, in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.

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The Spaniard has spent much of the year bitterly complaining that the British McLaren team have favoured Hamilton, and the head of the Spanish Motor Sport Federation, Carlos Gracia, appears to have created a new front in the row.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Publico, Gracia, when observing the media hype surrounding Hamilton in Britain, was quoted yesterday saying: "It is understandable that they want to make the most of it.

"But given how racist they are in England, the fact that they have to rely on a coloured driver..."

The sentence went unfinished but the damage was done. Ironically, in an effort that to ensure fair play is seen to be done this weekend, McLaren boss Ron Dennis had asked Gracia to be his personal pit lane guest and, ahead of travelling to Brazil, the Spaniard has sought to clarify his comments.

He said: "I'm very surprised by what was published and lament the interpretation which has been put on the words. They were taken out of context and wrongly interpreted.

"I want to make it clear that I do not believe in stereotyping any nationality. There was no racist element to what I said and I am a great admirer of England.

"The accusations that have emerged go against the very principles I've defended in 23 years at the head of the Spanish Federation.

"What I meant was that England have been looking for a Formula One idol for many years and no matter who he was they were going to give him all their support.

"I have always had great respect for Hamilton as a driver and that respect remains even though he can take the title away from Alonso."

Gracia claimed that even ahead of attending the title decider he was satisfied that Alonso and Hamilton would be treated as equals by McLaren.

He said: "I'm convinced that Hamilton and Alonso are going to get the same treatment. McLaren have demonstrated their professionalism over many years and so has Ron Dennis."

Hamilton, whose impact on Formula One has been compared with that of Tiger Woods in golf, is always careful not to make great play of his colour, and Dennis has maintained it was of no importance to the team.

Away from the war of words between the rival camps, the drama around F1's finale was further spiced up by a new weather forecast predicting possible storms on Sunday afternoon.

That could play into the hands of Hamilton who proved his skill on a wet track while winning the rain-stricken Japanese Grand Prix last month.

Counting against him is the fact that he has yet to race on the testing Interlagos circuit, whereas Alonso clinched the last two championships on the notoriously bumpy Tarmac.

Today, Hamilton was walking the course at a sedate pace in order to get a feel for it. He said: "Interlagos is another new circuit for me and there has been a lot of talk by other people about it is tricky to drive.

"That is why I see it as a special challenge and I will study it hard with my engineers and start to get an understanding of it.

"While I might be ahead by four points this championship is still very open. I will do what I can to score the points I need."