Mark Webber pleads to F1 not to punish Spain

In case you've been living under a rock lately, Spain had more than a few racist remarks directed at Lewis Hamilton a few weeks ago.

As a result, the FIA, along with F1 stakeholders, will be launching this ''Racing Against Racism'' campaign this 2008 F1 season. However, as it turns out, the FIA is not stopping there.

After some Spanish fans lashed out some racist remarks directed towards Lewis Hamilton during testing at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona, the FIA is threatening to have some sanctions against the country.

FIA President Max Mosley is even threatening to pull out the Spanish Grand Prix if Spanish organizers do not do something about the racial incident.

Rising F1 star and Red Bull driver, Mark Webber, on the other hand, believes that punishing the country won't resolve anything.

''If we are professional and organized, that stuff just doesn't get to the front line,'' Mark Webber said. ''The individuals need to be punished but to take it out on the whole sport and the country is wrong.''

''It can be stopped so much further downstream.''

''There were a few guys who were absolutely out of order, and that's what the whole thing has been hung on. You had a lot of fans who were there with their young kids on a Sunday, so why should you stuff it all for them because of a few guys?''

''We need to address it further back. You do not want airport security at a grand prix, where people are checking your bag for excessive amounts of make-up.''

''So how do you draw the line? It's difficult. They need to be able to control the individuals and move on as they do in other cases.''

Who will win the 2008 F1 Drivers Championship? Bodog Sportsbook has the odds.

Kimi Raikkonen 2.75

Lewis Hamilton 3.00

Fernando Alonso 7.00

Felipe Massa 7.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more F1 betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

2008 F1 Season Mark Webber