LONDON (AP):

THE FATHER of new Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton says racial abuse and other insults directed at his son and family had led him to consider withdrawing the 23-year-old black driver from the sport.

Anthony Hamilton expressed dismay at what he described as a hate campaign from different parts of the world against his son, who finished fifth in Sunday's season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix to become the youngest and first black driver to win the F1 season title.

"My family has taken a lot of stick (abuse) this past week, not just this past week, but the past few months," Anthony Hamilton was quoted as saying in British newspapers yesterday, speaking in Sao Paulo.

"I did think that maybe this isn't the place for my family because as a parent you make sure you do right for your family and kids," he said.

Hamilton said he never spoke to his son about withdrawing.

Negative people

"I kept it to myself, even though I was going home thinking, 'I didn't think the world was quite like this'," he said in The Guardian. "And then you think, 'It's just the way it is', and I'd send Lewis a text saying, 'Whatever happens, people love you'. The negative people are a small percentage and even the negative ones have a heart."

In the week leading up to the Brazilian race, Hamilton was the target of racist abuse on a Spanish website, was insulted by two Brazilian comedians and was handed a black cat - a symbol of bad luck in Brazil - at a sponsor's function.

Hamilton said his 16-year-old son, Nicholas, who has cerebral palsy, had also been handed a black cat as he entered their hotel.

"I thought that was extremely unprofessional," he said. "But do you know what they fail to realise? We've a black cat at home and she has been extremely positive for us."

A Spanish website had asked visitors to place virtual pins, nails and porcupines on a computer version of the Interlagos track to jinx Lewis Hamilton. Visitors were also invited to "leave a message to Hamilton", and many of them were full of racist and obscene comments.

FIA, the sport's governing body, launched an anti-racism campaign earlier this year after Spanish fans taunted Hamilton during testing in Spain in February.

Maybe God will forgive them

Anthony Hamilton said he did not let the insults spoil the enjoyment of his son's F1 triumph.

"If people like us, then great," he said. "If (they) don't, then I am sad for them and maybe God will forgive them. But we are decent people and remain decent people. I just don't understand why our message gets missed.

"But when things go against you, you rise above it and get stronger and stronger. Everything negative thrown at us is just huge positive energy. It's like fuel, the more you give the more it fuels us."

Hamilton was the target of racist abuse on a Spanish website, was insulted by two Brazilian comedians and was handed a black cat - a symbol of bad luck in Brazil - at a sponsor's function.