Formula One news

Ecclestone says racism row is one-off

Bernie Ecclestone has moved to play down the race row that has erupted in F1 since a small group of fans attending testing in Barcelona, Spain were found to be throwing racial abuse at Lewis Hamilton.

Since then the FIA has announced that an anti-racism campaign will be launched at the Spanish Grand Prix this year and has threatened to cancel the two races in Spain if there is a repeat of the scenes.

Ecclestone meanwhile says the event was probably a one-off and is in danger of being blown out of proportion.

"I don't think the moves are entirely necessary," Ecclestone told BBC Radio Five Live. "All it does is give attention to the people who want it. I think in Barcelona it was the group of people who caused the same trouble at the football - I don't think they're fans, and I don't think they were supporting Alonso in particular."

"I think they just like to abuse people and it was a one-off and nothing to worry about," he concluded. "I don't think Lewis would be affected by it as I think he's strong enough to know it's all nonsense."

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