It is totally unnaceptable for any one to joke about a human being because of the color of their skin, nationality, beliefs, accents, etc?

Manuel in Fawlty Towers?

God bless British media's double standards...!!!!

Tony Hayworth, London, UK

the bottom line here is spain is one of those racist countries but more blatant considering its a christian country. this is'nt the 1st incident, black players of england's football team where racially taunted by the racist spaniards almost all of them were chanting "monkeys" what a stupid thing.

Aspen, manila, Philippines

I am from SouthAmerica, but do research in USA and the UK. I visited Spain because of its rich culture and their wonderful country. However, I felt that race was an issue for spaniards; it seemed to me that they felt I was an inferior human being because I was South American. I felt as if Spaniards took for granted that I was SouthAmerican, so they didnt need to treat me as good as another Spaniard because of my race. One of my best friends is from Spain, and he has never even showed any type of racism towards me. I firmly believe that not all Spaniards are racist not even the majority. I do believe that racism is more accepted in Spain than anywhere else. If somebody was racist towards me in the USA or the UK, somebody else stood up for me. If somebody was racist towards me in Spain, everybody else was like sorry. I thought that was a personal thought but I talked to some other friends that have been to Spain and felt the same way. I hate to say that I would never go back there.

Julio Diaz, Cambridge, MA

look at the photo, they are so funny..... they are a joke

lewis shine... beat em and keep your chin up! British Grand prix supporters all the way behind you. leave em in the dust.

vicky Hunt, leeds,

Dear Whynot,LH does not need forgiveness from you nor from any other spanish citizen for that matter.By the way,Spain is not the only country in which the cars can be tested so dont talk about bad weather in England.

Tinashe, Milan, Italy

We don't need to be reminded of our history. We learned it at school. We know we are ethnically half africans, that the arabs lived in half of the Spanish territory for 800 hundred years. As did the celts, the romans, the fenician and many others. We are quite aware of it, are proud of it, and accept it as something quite natural. Racists attitudes should be banned from any society. The best way to fight against it is through education ( in the schools and the families and the media). Using racial issues to fuel the rivalry between Hamilton and Alonso is being trivial. Spanish fans and media in general support Alonso, and British do with Hamilton. If Hamilton is not liked , believe it or not, has nothing to do with the colour of his skin. He feels saddened, obviously he does. Every body whose dignitiy as a person and as professional is put into question does, not only him. Every body should be careful with what he says for fear of harming others. I

carmen, murcia,

To Jason in Christchurch, New Zealand.
I have just checked the final standings in last years drivers championship and see Alonso and Hamilton on 109 points,one hehind Kimi. And that with "little Lewis" getting the best treatment and Alonso practically "blackballed" Please explain how, therefore, "little Lewis " "beat him hands down"
Its good too see the residents of Her Majestys Commonwealth and colonies are still prepared to defend the "English Honour" at all costs.
Stick to rugby Jason something you kiwis are good at and leave F1 to those who know what they are talking about.............and can add as well !

Brian, Figueres, Spain

Dear Brian in Spain,
All the stats, and all the experts (not just British) agree Lewis performed better than any rookie ever before, your critisism sounds like sour grapes. Why not channel your energy into supporting Fernando, He's going to need it when Super Lewis gets his motor running!

Will, Hannover, Germany

Do you ever see any insults against Kimi, Massa, Schumi,…No because are white skin. Please think or inform before write lies like that. The racist people was in there some minutes, when they realize that wasn’t be properly words the security throw them away and close this part of stadium.England is not a example of nor racist country I’ve been living in there when I finished my degree for learning some English, and my foreingners partners (Frenchs, germans, east people, Italians,…) we have to hear racist insults in a small city, and one german was hitted for skin heads from England. I don’t think so that England is a model to follow. I think there are racist people in every country of Europe, but this not mean that all countries are racist or every people of this countries are racist. I’m not racist, and my friends, family and workmates are not racist. Please stop this stupid fight is has nonsense

Laura, Burgos, España

Nigel, don't be ridiculous please, where did you live in Madrid?, but In Madrid could be happen, it's normal there are millions of people with the lowest and the highest education, racist or the opposite, like in every part of the world, in big cities you have big difference between people. Is this a reference with all parts of one country?.Leave racist theme, nobody care if Hamilton is black skin, green, yellow, orange,…The only one think is he has to speak less and demonstrate more in the races. Because we are so angry with the actuation last year of Mclaren, Ron Dennis and Hamilton. And now this spoiled child is speaking, insulting and disturbing Alonso. This is the only reason for what in Spain nobody loves Hamilton, Mclaren, Ron Dennis and Mercedes, because of the unfair play last year. Don't play with something so important as racism is. We are so angry with Hamilton, but we don't care if he is English, german, chinnese, black, white, yellow, or from Mars.Please leave us alone.

Laura, Burgos, España

Jason, have you been in England once?, because i've been six months, and know and saw and heard very racist comments in there and extremmly hits, against people not just spanish, european in general. I'm living in a city in Spain triple of habitants than that English city and we never see something like that, just in big cities Madrid, Barcelona. In England is the same the size of the cities.

How can you speak about racist problems in Spain, it is embarrassing, really embarrassing. This things and surely 200 hundreds times major every day is happening in Britain, France, Germany,…How can you speak like that?. And forget about the dictatorship, you don’t know anything about that, I wasn’t born with dictatorship, and I never had problems with freedom, like me half inhabitants in Spain, is everything forget, 35 years ago, it is a lot. I were living in England and I can show you that our level of life everyday and the life in my country is several times better. Leave of said stupids thi

Laura, Burgos, Spain

It´s very funny that British call other people racist. Please, I´m from Benidorm. I know British people very well. I´ve seen hundreds of brawl fight even among Brithish, just for being English or Scottish. They behave like truly hooligans, so please, don´t try to give us moral lessons.

Martin, Benidorm, Spain

To filip from belgum.... excuse, but I think that 300 ears ago we conquered your bloody country, and Holland... so instead of calling me a 3 world country look at your self and think about your great great great grand parents.... they might be spanish :)

Jorge, Washington DC, USA

If it were not for Spain, Europe would be a very boring place. Those guys know how to have fun, by the way I got mugged in Brixton-London by you Brits, so I'll rather someone made fun of me in Spain than someone trying to kill me in your dirty, rude and very violent streets.

Hugo, Buenos Aires, argentina

Should I think that all the English are hooligans because a few guys go to Turkey or Spain or Italy to support their football teams turning what we call Sport into Free Violence?.
That's stupid. We should not take into account what the English tabloids publish.

I'm Spanish and I agree that every racist attitude is condemnable (that one, for example), but I have also seen racism in Belgium, France or even the UK towards arab, indian or pakistani people and the difference is that I don't call either the French or the British racist. Don't you remember the anti-Asian revolts in Leeds or what Belgium did in Africa during the colonial era?.

Summing up, let's give and end to racism anywhere it is.

Ah, I forgot, If we look inside our homes we all have dirty clothes to wash up.

Walter, Malaga, Spain

damn shame as an african american we are still treated this way everywhere. And they wonder why we have such a chip on our sholders. rich, poor educated or not we are still looked at like second hand citizenz all around the world.

Jay , Baltimore, USA/ MD

The FIA should investiage and if this incident did indeed happen take immediate action with some form of sanction.

Not promise or threaten to take action next time.

The FIA should surely realise that failure to deal with this matter will indicate further evidence that they are biased aginst team McLaren!!

N Bryant, Singapore,

White Spaniards can be racist?
Well slap me with a kipper theres a suprise.
Speaking as a black Briton guess what?
We know.
We know they they drown Gypsies in Eastern Europe, and Aboriginals don't fare well in Australia. That the Klan still lives and the you don't want to be black and poor in Rio.
Whether its Carnival or not......
Note that Hamilton did not say he was surprised just 'saddened'.
I see it as a further example of 'Old Europe's'
(great expression that, respectful and damning at the same time) one step forward two back approach to Nationhood.

"Do you want blood with that soil Sir?"

Stephen, London,

I think that is not racism. The only problem the British have is that you don't have humor sense. Spanish people are not racist, they only are making a parody of Hamilton's familly. It's only for fun. Fernando Alonso and all famous people are parody in Spain.

Don't see things that are not existing!!

Fernando (working in London), London, UK

I'm Spanish (or Catalan, if you like) and I'm ashamed too.
It's so disappointing to read so many comments from Spanish people trying to play down this incident. Reading things like "hey, it was Carnival that weekend" and other shallow arguments is just so sad.
Come on people, what happened at the Circuit de Catalunya is utterly unacceptable.
People taking this as an offense to Spain by the FIA are missing the point here: listen, a bunch of people barking racist insults in the audience...THAT simply cannot happen. End of story.
Unlike other countries in Europe, Spain is still a very "young" country in terms of both democracy (32 years) and behaving as an immigration destination...
Although I truely believe we've done kinda good job in reaching today's status quo, I think we still have a log way to go (mainly at an educational level).

well, just my 2 pence.
Cheers,

A sad catalan, Barcelona, Spain

What is this all about?. I can not (can) believe what i have read on this politically correct article.So that, just because a few racist people (Spanish this time) with an unacceptable and shameful behaviour have appeared in Barcelona doing everything that racist people from all over the world usually do (racist insults).I repeat, because of that. An English journalist has written an article talking about “Civil War of Spain”, “Spanish migrants”, “a four-decade dictatorship in the late 1970s”, “racist Spanish society?”, “Government without seeing the big affair of state (Hamilton’s family on T-shirts),etc...You English people are always giving lessons of what is politically correct or what is not to others. When most of the time you all should learn something about not to camouflage the reality into your interest.That is no other thing than demagogy. To those who are talking about Spain so disrespectfully, please do learn a bit more about world history and do stop saying stupid things.

Luis, Badajoz, Spain

Ok, Message for Emma and Brian (Spain). You both obviously have a very found love of your own opinions! It's just a shame they are some what Warped, and not at all accurate!

Emma first of all my darling, if you believe that The British are the most racist peole in the WORLD, Your a bigger FOOL than even your friends think you are, Where is your evidence to support your accusation?! Britian is a multicultural society and has been for quite dome time now!!
And Brian my dear Chap, If Lewis Hamilton is a 'CHOKER' and Fernando is such a brilliant driver then why did dear old Lewis beat him hands down in last year's Championship?!

Jason, Christchurch, Newzealand

I dissaprove what happened at the Spanish Grand Prix. I have to say though that English media, as British people, tends to exagerate everything that goes against their sportmen. I have lived in Manchester for nearly 4 years, living and working with British people and when there is no black or asian people present they often use racist words like "paki" or "nigger". Of course those people (and they are many) would deny it if asked.
So my point is: there is underlying racism in every white country on earth, including England and Spain. It must be punished in a sensible way, not branding and punishing a whole country for it. What happenend in Barcelona deserves the utmost atention from the authorities and the appropiate, balanced measures.

By the way, unfortunately, racism is one of many human vices, not owned by any country in particular. And this vice in particular is due mainly to ignorance, Hence education is the key weapon to erradicate it. Let´s work on it

Miguel, Valencia, Spain

Chantng racist abuse at Lewis is typical of sore loosers, so afraid Hamilton might be fast this year even without Alonso to "set up his car". if LH is so inept who did the setup on his car in F2 ? I haven't read much anti Alonso feedback from Hamilton fans.

Will, Hannover, Germany

So should we just ignore it just because only 5 racist Spaniards are pictured?

This is 2008 and if these people can feel comfortable enough to show themselves in public that way in this modern, progressive era -- without any fear of being criticised or condemned, then how many more Spanish people have that same kind of racist belief but simply have not demonstrated such feelings publicly?

A. J., Nassau, Bahamas

OK.Its time to say it loud and clear......listen up everybody......
Lewis Hamilton is a CHOKER. He couldnt tie up a world championship he had in the bag last season and our English friends, knowing right well that he is unlikely to do it this year without Alonsos know how in the set up of the car, are getting their excuses ready before the season has even started ! If he couldn't take the title last year with Alonsos set up and with his engineers having all the stolen data on the Ferraris what chance has the chap this year ?
But back home in England you build sports stars up before they have even won anything.............
Question......How mant F1 world drivers championships has Alonso and how many has little Lewis?
Answers on postcards please or by email here.

Brian, Figueres, Spain

You British people are the most intolerant and racist people in the world, so dont come with that since Spain is well known for its "opened" political rigths for inmigrants, who by the way Im sure have been much better welcome here than in your kingdom.
DONT critize us, start by going out your houses and seeing what happens daily with inmigrants there.
You have racism just in this paper, when u read some unfair comments about Spain and Spanish people who Im sure u havent the pleasure to know.
Have a nice day

Emma, Madrid, SPAIN

You've got to be kidding me. Spain still would be a third world country if their land wouldn't be in Europe.

Filip, Belgium,

5 people (see the photo) doing fooling things and we are racist? Please, you are more intelligent, aren´t you?

jorge, MAdrid, Spain

Does anyone realize it was carnival time last weekend in Spain? I do not find it funny anyway, but would you feel the same if they wore Viking helmets and blonde wigs in front of Kimi's garage? Would that be racist?

What is really funny is to read so many racist/xenophobic comments made by people who criticize racism/xenophobia. Which is not surprising, if you bear in mind how deeply racist/xenophobic is the British society (and derived societies). Scots hate the English, the English hate Scots, and both hate Irish, and so on, and then have a short look at history of the colonies.

Funny to see how the word "hooligan" has become common use in many non-English speaking countries. Must be shameful.

I'm not a LH supporter, but I'm very interested to see how he races without Alonso's set-ups. That will be real sport, and the rest is just rubbish.

Too bad not being able to read/understand any language but English... Otherwise many of you could have access to better information.

Santi, Burgos,

I think it's a shame that Fernando Alonso has not tried to intervene in a situation which so obviously has been blown out of all proportion. He could regain the respect of all by being forthright in his condemnation of racist insults to whomever receives them. As it is, his silence admits complicity if not approval, and I fear there will be more tit for tat on both sides, much to the detriment of people who just want to see the best man win, regardless.

Chris, Barcelona, Spain

dear Brits you must learn to lose Formula 1: this is the only your problem. Trying to eliminate Spain from Formula 1 with these systems doesn't make honor to your flag. Don't be too Machiavellian, please, and leave Spain in peace.

carlo, milan, italy

Pariah nation status beckons.

Andrew Milner, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

I do not judge the people of Spain just as I hope you would not judge the people of Australia or any other country based on the behaviour of a few idiots. Racism is not the same as Nationalism.

a don, Sydney, Australia

From Spain, as I saw it, the behaviour of the people with racist insult is disgusting and sport authorities have to be more hard with this kind of behaviour. However, this picture is a bad interpretation of racism, because this weekend in Spain was carnival. I think this people chose as costume Hamilton's family.

I think "Henry the nazi" was a worse choice of costume.

Joaquin Carrasco, Murcia, Spain

There is something i am not quite understanding about this issue. These "fans" of Alonso turned up with blackened faces with wigs and "hamilton's family" written on t-shirts and were still allowed to take their seats!!!

The idea that they were just dressing up is silly when you actually see footage of the incident, those dressed that way were just a few of the many shouting racial abuse. This is just another in a long line of racially motivated incidents. I'm sure we can all name 4, 5 or more involving Spain in recent history!!

Joe, edinburgh, Scotland

The behaviour of the fans at the motor racing tract in barcelona was totally incredible.

I am so ashamed of being a spanish citizen. With these picturesd being flashed all over the world, the damage to Spain's reputation is huge.

I wish the spanish authorities will wake up and realise that action is long overdue.

carlos, London, UK

as rob from madrid said
"although most people here are not racist there is an underlying acceptance of racist attitudes and stereotypes"
i think that so called racists in that photos were going to have fun more than abuse LH or abusing LH is nothing but just a way to gain more fun. Racism is a subculture in Spain? people think they are somewhat superior than other limited races? so they accept that condition? they are not racist in the surface but in their deep hearts.
not a blame to spain many countries from first world do so...
so as japan.
should be blamed or not?

hikari, tokyo, japan

Spain has to suffer the penalty of having Formula 1 events banned from their country for a long time. It's more than an isolated incident: football matches are there to prove it.

World should not tolerate such irrational behavior.

Fabian, São Paulo, Brazil

Well, it's finally out. Spain has had problems of the same ilk in other sports--notably football. It seemed certain that behind some of the unrelentless slamming of Hamilton was a tinge of a superiority complex on the part of Spaniards. Mention this though, and people say that you're the one who is always bringing up race. I bet many won't have much to say here about this. The fans' behavior is disgusting regardless of the sport and the FIA should not allow it to become an accepted part of Hamilton or any other nonwhite athlete's visits to Spain. Pretty pathetic for such a nice country.

Esmerelda, Cannes, France

I still cannot understand the evilness of dressing up as a black person. Next Christmas, Baltasar will be deleted from the Three Wise Men. No presents from him.

Jose Pedro, Murcia,

I am a Brit living in Catalunya and am ashamed by the behavior of a few ignorant idiots. I find the catalan people very kind and certainly NOT racist in any way. Please, all you FI fans, do not think for a moment it is the normal behavior of the Catalan people. They adore Fernando and rightly so, he is a fantastic driver. You cannot condem an entire country because of a few nobrainers. The Spanish Grand Prix must stay.

Bryan Gee, Roses, gerona, Spain

Have some of you not read the article? Or maybe you just looked at the picture?

This is more than just a few people dressing up. If this was the case I wouldn't be too bothered.

But racist insults were verbally directed at Hamilton.

Unless you think like those responsible how can this be OK?

John, London,

I only want to say that we´re not like this "people?", there are few fascist and xenofobic people that you can find the in every country, Most of us only want to make you know that we´re not racist, and I desire one thing....Please don´t say: Spain is a racist country, because we ( and also Argentina, India, Fidji,Iraq...)that England is a Killer´s country....and it is not true....or I don´t want to believe that.

Felix, Granada,

Is anybody aware it's CARNAVAL these days???

Paul, Tarragona, Spain

Laura Roberts and Jose Pedro. Get a clue, please. Your arguments are so irrelevant to what happened in Spain, and you two are so far from having any degree of social/racial enlightment, that I wouldn't know where to begin. I'm a very open african american with friends from many countries and many races. I've been a victim to racist taunts and actions many times in my life, but have never let the acts of a few idiots (or their apologists, like yourselves) effect my tolerance of white people, and those of other creeds and colors. As a result, and perhaps naively, I'm still shocked by your responses, and by the fact that backwards, closed-minded people like you still exist out there. At the end of the day, your empty, pathetic defense of racists who treat blacks like football mascots are much offensive than the acts themselves.

Camara Garrett, Washington,

What are the rights of free speech under these circumstances; and, what are the elements that make this abusive?

Bill, Alabama, USA

The comments about this only being fancy dress by a minority are very sad.
Surely the key point is that large sections of the crowd could clearly be heard chanting racist slogans. It is a very dark day for F1 that this is allowed. Spineless in the extreme.

philip slade, London,

Jason, this fishing boat was illegally boarded by the canadian coast guard well beyond the 200 mile limit, thus in international waters according to the 1982 convention. Against all anglo saxon custom of a 12 mile area of sovereignty, developed during the british empire and to the benefit of the seapower that this same empire maintained (the closer that they could bring a gunboat to a foreign shore without breaking the law, the better " gunboat diplomacy" worked). Something like that is happening now with mr Hamilton. The people who sent their regiments to heysel stadium, the ones that beat rodney king, now that they have adopted some hypocritical political correctness are chastising the spanish, a nation of racist barbarians. And the writer wonders why this piece of news has not been important in spain. Much ado about nothing. 5 million people are being integrated in our country in less than 10 years. What happened is a shame, accusing a whole nation is both ignorant and preposterous.

Fernando, figueres, Spain

Please, check the images of the supporters that come to Spain with every british football team before blaming a whole country for just a few retarded. And at least they don't beat anyone up

Pablo, Madrid, Spain

This is really an abuse? I think is a more more bigger abuse that English people do with the Sanity of Spain every year !!!
If you don't like Spanish people, stay in England!!!

JAL, Gijon,

Good idea.If Spain doesnt apologise lets ban them from F1 and we can all have the practice sessions in the snow,hail,wind and rain in jolly England.Great fun !! As for our friend from Scotland who wont be coming again to Spain well thats one less screaming drunken holiday maker less and one less pool of vomit for the residents of the "costas" to clean up every morning

Brian, Figueres, Spain

Racist Insults are deplorable!! But dressing up like other person, being black , Chinese, German, British is normal IN CARNIVAL. Please remember that is carnival season and all the catholic countries (Spains is one of them) and during carnival people is allow to make fun of FAMOUS people.
I do remember Euro Football Cuap 1996 in London, Spain VS England when one of your newspaper wrote down that "All Spanish women have mustache" and the only good thing from Spain is the Tortilla. That was against the whole nation. Remember that ? What did we do? All the Spanish girls at the stadium they used a fake mustache!! And we did not bother any country with racism.

JoseBelgica, Brussels, Belgium

I sincerely disagree with Chris Williams. Though I am from the U.S., and don't follow FIA, I can say that legislation can change the hearts and minds of people. We have a prime example here and that is, Brown v. Board of Education [Kansas]. That case changed that cultural landscape of the United States, despite the fact that many people here said it could not be done. I cannot speak for Europe and I realize we have different histories/experiences, but what Brown has shown is that legal precedent can lead to monumental changes in society.

Michael, Burlington, USA, Vermont

As a Brit living in Spain I have to say that although most people here are not racist there is an underlying acceptance of racist attitudes and stereotypes, shown by Jose Pedro, that is worrying. Here if you look asian you are a "Chino", basically a Chinese person and while there is nothing racist about calling someone chinese it is not uncommon to hear "CHINO!" shouted out at any asian looking person be it in the street or on TV. While Oliver is right to say that these actions were only committed by a few I found it interesting that the spanish authorities mentioned what spain had to lose when saying they'll take a tough line in future and not about the moral and legal wrongdoings of those involved. The fact is these people dressed like that should have been turned away and I think if the FIA is to keep its credibility then they have to take a hard line.. sadly as much as I do admire Bernie i think the money he'll lose from 2 races is more important and max will comply no doubt....

Rob, Madrid,

stop it please!. I can admit some Spanish idiots abused Hamilton...and we do not accept it...but you are going too far. It is quite clear that some of you missunderstand everything.

Is it fare to say all British are gilty for the nice and charming Liverpool fans that kileed some fifty Juventus supporters in Brussels? I think it is not.

After March 11 th with more than 200 people died in Madrid due to Islamic errorist, no single abuse was made in the whole country against islamic people... You can not say the same in USA after September the 11th or in London July 7th. It was a remarkable response admitted by everyone. This is a fact.

Words harm too!!

ALBERTO, Madrid, Spain

One of the world's most modern and daring sports is now stained by the emergence of stone-age bigotry in its spectators. Well, someone needs to do something about it, and I don't mean a warning. Spain's organizers need to be penalized--fined--for allowing this display and told that they are on probation for a year--with continued Formula 1 participation at stake.

Could people do this at a tennis match? At a golf tournament? These are two majority-white sports that have seen strong competitive advances by black players in recent decades. Spectator interest and attendance have benefited. A display like this at Wimbledon or St. Andrews would result in swift ejections. Formula 1 needs to draw a firm line.
--Lindsay Lovejoy (USA)

Lindsay Lovejoy, Santa Fe, NM , USA

Like barcelona fans remind us every fortnight, CATALONIA IS NOT SPAIN.
Catalans have a tendency to despise even the Spanish, let alone the rest of the world. Rangers fans (and in a near future also Celtic fans) will be aware of it. It should come as no surprise both the Hamilton incident and the Ecuatorian girl incident happened in barcelona...
Its always best to stay away from Catalunya.

Johnny, Manchester, Great Britain

I second Jack's comments, if you want to know where this starts just read the "have your say" comments posted by Spaniards on this website and elsewhere.

Their hatred of Hamilton has made them half insane. Their writing slides into an anti-Hamilton rant within a sentence. The rest is riddled with the most bizarre, illogical twaddle imaginable. I'm amazed the Times and others publish it.

And now this, racism in the stands. Hamilton has really bought out the ugly side of the Spanish character.

It's Spanish F1 fans took some time out to reflect. Either that or kick Barcleona off the F1 map!

Simon , London, UK

Jose I think you need help .

Antoine Martin, Warsaw, Poland

Spain has the best hobby of Motorcycles in the world and now has the best of F1 and the FIA does not like to be methane with his beloved child.
Whenever there are four fools who make noise, but not
Otherwise we can generalize and say unto you, I do not remember that F1 has been built with anyone except Hamilton, and this guy has earned it a pulse by trickster.

Bye

Juan, EspaÑa,

Just for Ie hammer:

Your comment is really racist...we are nos ashemed of our history....but very proud
Some history for you:
Spain is a mixture of people from a lot of places: Celts, Phenicians, Greeks, Romans (3 centuries), Germans (4 centruries) and Moors. It formed a country..the first modern country in Europe
We mixed with the local population (indians) in South America...Pizarro married and have sons with an inca princess.
This is not my understanding of all the colonies you had (USA and Austalia good examples)...by far in history British have liked more to keep distances with dark skin people

ALBERTO, Madrid, Spain

Dear Britons, do not make so much of this matter. First because they were only few people who behaved like this, stupid people there are in every place. And secondly because of the way the article is written, exaggerating the facts in order to create polemic.
The fact of the aggression to the Ecuadorean girl is true but what it is not said is that left the country in a state of profound shock because this is not usual and got the disapproval of everybody.
It has no sense that somebody hates a country because the attitude of 4 people when this kind of incidents happens in his own country. If you do not believe me, please visit the web "Center of the Sociology of Sport" of the University of Leicester (http://www.le.ac.uk/so/css/resources/factsheets/fs6.html).
Does Thomas Catan really live in Spain and he has been discriminated against by Spaniards? I do not believe it.
Peace for everybody.

Oscar Lopez, Madrid, Spain

Dressing up may be fun but racial taunts are not exeptable!

Spain, keep the costumes for carnivals and bull torturing.

F1, delete Spain. There are many more liberally minded countries ready to take over. Right now you do not need this.

david eyles, bahrain,

FYI--this is not dressing up as a black person. This kind of exaggerated caricature of black people is formally called "black face" and it seeks to demean and exploit black images for the mocking amusement of the majority population. To say this is not racist is willful or actual ignorance. The perpetrators are often obsessed with race and can be counted upon, almost universally, to have strident racist attitudes. It's insulting to label this anything less than blatant racism.

Amber, Washington, DC, USA

I think Spain should have all Formula 1 events taken away and banned from holding any more for 5 years, that way these people may have grown up by then.

Derek, Edinburgh, UK

It looks as though motor-racing is getting as bad as football as far as the wrong kind of spectators. But the reaction to this is overboard. Catch the offenders, get them to apologise personally to Lewis Hamilton, but do not threaten to take away Spain's GP race. That is definitely an illegal act as it punishes the innocent.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

What? Racist commentary from sports fans?

Say it ain't so!!!

Come on! After what goes on in football matches throughout the World, it was only time that such behavior jumped from the pitches of Barcelona, Manchester, Cairo, or Abdijan, to work its way into the racing tracks.

Fans, for all their boorish behavior, will be fans. And they will do anything and say anything to attempt to derail the performance of the competition.

The best thing to do is to eject such fans from the tourney and ban their future presence from that venue forever.

Cuban Pete, Washington, DC, USA

yes it's racist - wearing blonde wigs and viking helmets would be racist too if it referenced a history of inhuman cruelty and oppression of Danish/Scandinavian people. However Hamilton should have a secret chuckle - Alonso can't beat him fair and square and his Spanish fans obviously know that. Hamilton has the talent and the class to become one of the all time greats. Maybe Alonso has the talent but we saw from last season that he hasn't got the class and some of his fans wouldn't even know what the word meant.

alex Vaughan, barnet, uk

I´m spanish. I dont speak English very well, but I just want to say that the most of Spanish people dont like Hamilton because of his bad manners and personality, not because of his colour. But unfortunately, ther are always a few stupids everywhere you go. I'm really sorry, because Spanish people dont think or feel like those ...

Gloria, Santander, Spain

To be honest spain have given themselves a bad name because they're was a racist incident with english footballers concerning monkey chants.

I'm apalled by the spanish peoples behaviour and it does my head in to see disgraceful things like that towards a respectable man.

dave, derby,

I want to make very clear my dislike on the sad events in Barcelona’s circuit. In any case, I don’t think that there is more racism in Spain than in other European countries like France, Germany or even England. In fact, some of the comments on the Spanish people I have read in this on-line edition are just as racist as the ones heard in the circuit against Hamilton. It is true that Hamilton is not loved in Spain, in fact I don’t like him because of his behaviour last season and his relation with Fernando Alonso, but I don’t support the racist claims against him or anyone else. Anyway, as I just said, Spanish people is not more racist than others Europeans and the problems with racism, which are already taking place in many European countries (remember the French Nation Front, those extremist parties in Holland, and so on…) have nothing to do with this case of rivalry and lack or manners in Sport (think about hooligans).

Alfonso, Valladolid, Spain

First of all I want to apologise to those who feel that they have been spitted by the racist insults of a few spanish FA supporters in Barcelone.
On the other hand, i want to say that is useless and nonesense make a countries controversial on that matters.
Though I try to be an objective person, I have to recognise that I hate the behaviour of LH, and I have to say also that FA it's not always been very fortunate on his sayings and gests, but this doesn't justifies a racist reaction, but please, be fair and honest, I've been living in a diferent boroughs in London (Chelsea, Ealing and Wembley) and there's very different people living there, and of course some of them think that brittish would live better if there was no inmigration.
Please not all spanish are racists, not all germans are square headed, not all french are chauvinists, not all americans are haughty and not all brittish are hooligans.
Bye to you all, and sorry for the lengh of my say.

J.M. Gomez, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Unbelievable scenes, Spain has serious issues with Racism in sport to the extent where in the UK, we would have been justly crucified by our own media, the sporting governing bodies and more importantly - the majority of our general public who simply will not stand for such small minded, ill found and disgraceful behaviour. It isn't just Formula 1 where this kind of behaviour happens, there is a minority of Spanish fans who just DO NOT KNOW how to behave and amazingly, the majority of the Spanish public who are probably (one would hope), saddened by acts of this nature continue to stand idly buy rather than demanding that such acts be stamped out.
Monkey chants on the football pitch, Figo in the corner and a PIGS HEAD spring to mind...
Dare we ask the question – who let these idiots through the gates in the first place!!??

Figo taking a croner and a PIGS HEAD spring to mind...

Gavin, Caernarfon, Wales

It's awful the behavior of these people, but it's starting to get annoying the continuous remarks about the so called racism in Spain. This is not a matter of being black or white. The painted their faces black because the reality is that Lewis Hamilton IS black, and that's nothing to be ashamed off. They dressed like that in order to attract attention. The problem in this case is not racism but the fact that Spanish newspapers and TV channel spent a year degrading Hamilton after what they considered a betrayal and attack to Alonso.

Gabrielle, Barcelona,

I am very surprised that the Spanish felt the need to 'black up'. Ethnically they are probably more African than Hamilton is... Let's remember, the Moors ruled Spain for 800 years. What started with mass rape and pillaging, turned into full racial intermixing... Which is why many of the Spanish Churches are converted Mosques, the people are of a dark, swarthy appearance, the traditional music sounds Arabic and the girls have big round bottoms! Spain needs to understand its past and its black, muslim heritage before it can proceed into the future with any dignity...

le hammer, Chelsea, London

This just shows that Countries like Spain and Portugal are not quite as wholesome and friendly as they try and make out and it is time that as well as joining the EU they also joined the 21st Century and stamped down hard on such racism (which I believe also occurs in their football matches) . In my opinion most racists are people lacking in any intelligence and racism is something that they think makes them look "big" when in fact it just makes them look like mindless fools. I hope Lewis Hamilton fully realises that 99.9% of people are not racist and support him.

John, Woking, Surrey

I think that the Spanish fans totally disgraced the facts between Fernando and Lewis. This is all thanks to the Spanish press. Make no mistake I am not Lewis's fan because of the way he conducts himself making provocative comments about his professional relationship with Fernando and by not giving the chance to the other party face to face to defend himself and being contemptuous toward the talent of other pilots on the grid. However, In this case I do think that this ignorant-racist-childish behavior from the Spanish fans should NOT be tolerated. In fact the FIA was right on the argument that this type of behavior should and must be sanctioned in Spain or any country that host GPs. Forza Ferrari.

Joachim , Tampa, Florida, USA

An obvious lack of education from a minority of the spanish nation. The not only make a laughing stock of themselves but they distract from the fact that Alonso is a talented driver. Alonso will now suffer in the UK as a result.

Mark Martin, Flint, Flintshire

Are we sure these guys are not his fans? I have noticed a tendency these days at golf and motorsports for fans to dress up as dopplegangers for their favourite. Just a thought.

Ian, Fleetwood, UK

They can give out but they cannot receive. He is saddened by this trivial show. Maybe he should direct his media persona to trully saddening happenings in the world. Sign of the times that people cannot take anything without it be a personal affront. They should all grow up!!

Sue Saro, Cadiz,

Jose, your obviously blind. If that isn't racist I don't know what is.
The Spanish are a strange bunch. I remember them burning the Canadian flag in Madrid, when they were caught red handed fishing in delicate Canadian waters. Why would they do that?
They knew they weren't supposed to be there. They were stealing and just got mad because they got caught. Sounds to me like GP's in Spain may have to be monitored with cameras and lots of Police like a football game.

Jason, Calgary, Canada

I'm not a fan of Lewis - I can't say why he just doesn't make me like him. BUT saying that dressing up as a black persons not racist is a joke. If it was acceptable the black and white minstrels would still be on TV on saturday nights.
Pull the plug FIA and show you've got the bottle to police your sport the way you swing everything Ferraris way.
Spain doesn't want the Brits is the message I'm getting here. So thats fine - until theres an appology I'm not going there.

James, Glasgow,

mpossible to legislate for what goes on in the hearts and minds of people. You can change laws - you can't make people decent by rules and guidelines - it's too late by then.

Chris Williams, Cardiff, Wales

Impossible to legislate for what goes on in the hearts and minds of people. You can change laws - you can't make people decent by rules and guidelines - it's too late by then.

Chris Williams, Cardiff, Wales

Dressing up for fun is part of the Spanish culture, so what is wrong with dressing up as a black person? If Hamilton were to be blonde, they would have carried blonde wigs. There is no racism in that picture. Racial insults are a different matter, and completely disgraceful.

Jose Pedro, Murcia,

Does this mean every time football supporters wear blonde pigtailed wigs and a viking helmet, they're being racist towards the Danes?

Laura Roberts, London, UK

This is upsetting. I've always loved Spain and the Spanish people.

Hamilton has -by any reasonable view- been a breath of fresh air in sport far beyond F1.

Spain is rapidly losing friends over this. Wake up Spain!

G Johns, Athens,

There are tloglodytes in Spain, of course (there are idiots in every country). But don't put the blame on all the Spanish supporters just because of the racist behaviour of a few of them. I don't think that every Briton is a hooligan although some of them destroy everything when they come to Spain with the teams they support.

Oliver, Madrid, Spain

"have your say" comments from the Spanish about F1 inevitably paint Alonso as a saint and Hamilton as a bad guy, regardless of the facts. This disgraceful episode has gone beyond the bounds of their usual fanatical bias and into the realm of nasty racism.

The perpetrators should be arrested and banned for life from F1, and Spain should be barred from holding a Grand Prix.

Jack Bloxam, Edinburgh,

I was at Montmelo last Saturday just in front Renault box, and I did not hear any racist attack, but a lot of boos.
Hamilton will never be welcome in Spain. He is an arrogant spoilt boy and Spanish will never forgive Hamilton, Denis and company the behavior against Fernando.

Against racism and Xenophobia

Whynot, barcelona, Spain

Sorry for any racist abuse, in Sapin there is stupid people but it si not the rule.
Obviously I am not a Hamilton's fan, another kind of adjectives can be used without racist connotation. I have some in mind.
In any case, the best satisfaction for the Spanish people taht supports Alonso will be a third championship winned in the track
At the moment, the R28 is nearest in every training day and the season will be equal with four teams at top

in remind, do not judge the spanish people based on the behaviour of some persons...

AM, Salou, Spain

Amazing how ignorant and blatantly racist people can be, and they obviously thought that this was in some way helping Mr Alonso, why else would they behave like that?

Patrik Johnsson, Oxford, Oxfordshire