Fernando Alonso has insisted Spain is not a racist country, following the abuse that fellow Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton suffered there.
Hamilton was targeted by spectators while testing in Barcelona in February, but Alonso believes the problem is not as bad as people believe it to be.
"I don't think this is a racist country and the fans aren't either," the Spaniard told Spanish newspaper AS.
"Whoever says there's racism in Spain is talking about isolated cases."
The former world champion added: "The less we talk about what happened 15 days ago, the better, because that's a completely isolated case from someone who was celebrating a carnival.
"I haven't seen any video or recording of the alleged insults."
"It was an isolated incident and the FIA or anyone saying that the Spanish fans are racists is laughable."
Widespread condemnation followed the incident at the Circuit de Catalunya, where spectators were seen with blacked-up faces and wearing wigs.
As a result the sport's world governing body, the FIA, will launch an anti-racism campaign at April's Spanish Grand Prix but Alonso believes the move is unnecessary.
"It was an isolated incident and the FIA or anyone saying that the Spanish fans are racists is laughable.
"Last year, they called me a dog in a few races. Niki Lauda said those things about me, and no-one came to me to show me their support."
Meanwhile, the two-time former world champion admits his new Renault team have little hope of challenging for a podium finish at the season's first grand prix in Australia.
He said: "We are pretty far behind. We are not in a position to fight for anything important right now.
"Thinking about a podium would be too optimistic... it is a dream."
But Alonso has been impressed by BMW Sauber's form in the build-up to the new season.
"Everything changes very quickly in Formula One. Two or three weeks ago BMW were a little bit behind, we were close to them. Now they are very close to McLaren," he added.
"They [BMW] are going very fast. They have not shown their cards. They are running with the tank full and are doing very good times."
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