Spanish authorities urged to act on racism

The website featured hundreds of derogatory comments about Hamilton ahead of the season finale in Brazil - and it drew swift condemnation from the FIA and McLaren.

Although the website has now been closed down, a British cabinet minister thinks the matter should be pursued by Spanish officials.

Andy Burnham, the culture, media and sport secretary, told the Guardian newspaper: "This is a crucial race and the whole country will be behind him (Hamilton). I'm very concerned to hear reports of sites potentially fuelling racist abuse. The authorities must take the toughest possible action against racism in sport."

A report in today's Guardian newspaper claims that the website at the centre of the controversy is owned by a New York-based advertising agency, TBWA - part of the world's largest media services group Omincom.

TBWA represent major clients such as Absolut Vodka, Apple, Adidas, McDonald's, Michelin, Sony PlayStation and Singapore Airlines.

A spokesman for the company told the Guardian that they would take 'appropriate action' once they had identified who was responsible for the website. TBWA spokesman Jeremy Miller said: "This is not what we condone as a company."