July 18, 2021 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen before the race Pool via REUTERSLewis Hamilton was subjected to racist abuse online after winning the British Grand Prix, with social media firm Facebook saying on Monday that it had removed a number of comments on Instagram. The seven-times world champion celebrated a record eighth British Grand Prix victory on Sunday at Silverstone after fighting back from a 10-second penalty for a first-lap collision that ended up with title rival Max Verstappen in hospital. "The racist abuse directed at Hamilton during and after the British Grand Prix is unacceptable and we've removed a number of comments from Instagram," a spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, said in a statement. "Formula One, the FIA, the drivers and teams are working to build a more diverse and inclusive sport and such unacceptable instances of online abuse must be highlighted and eliminated." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met social media firms last week to ask them step up the fight against online abuse.

Source: Standard Digital July 19, 2021 06:00 UTC