From GMMNew Formula World Champion Lewis Hamilton has issued a quick-fire response to Bernie Ecclestone's claim that recent incidents of apparent racism were over-the-top jokes."I don't particularly think it was a joke," said the 23-year-old, who last Sunday became F1's youngest ever and also first black world champion in history.Hamilton was referring to a test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya earlier this year, when fans of Spaniard Fernando Alonso blacked out their faces and wore t-shirts scrawled with 'Hamilton's family'."It's something that happened in the past and going forward all that is important to me is that I know I have lots of fans, especially here in the UK," the Briton said.On that same day, Ferrari's president Luca di Montezemolo could not resist a jocular jibe at the outcome of the 2008 world champion.Montezemolo said of Massa's near feat and Hamilton last-corner pass: "We managed to save Hamilton from being sent to the psychiatric ward."In New York, he was addressing Ferrari's ranks by phone as Maranello stages its end-of-season party.At the team's Italian base, boss Stefano Domenicali hailed Ferrari's less prestigious 2008 constructors' championship, and said key reliability failures and mistakes cost Massa the drivers' crown.He said of Hamilton and McLaren: "They were really strong and earned what they achieved." photo: WRI2
F1: Racism no joke, Lewis Hamilton tells Bernie Ecclestone