Lewis Hamilton has come in for criticism online over a video he shared on Instagram yesterday.

The clip, uploaded to his Instagram stories, shows Formula 1 driver Lewis appearing to mock his nephew for wearing a dress. "I'm so sad right now, look at my nephew" he says, before turning the camera on the young boy, who is wearing a purple dress and holding a wand.

Oh dear Lewis. You’ve just opened a can of worms... pic.twitter.com/fpsiNeOZrd

— Nabeela (@JustNabz) December 25, 2017

"Why are you wearing a princess dress?," he asks the boy in the clip. "Is this what you got for Christmas? Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas? Boys don't wear princess dresses!" Many people online were upset by how Lewis spoke to his nephew.

Lewis Hamilton likes to shout in the faces of kids to make them feel uncomfortable when they express themselves differently.

Straight into the wood chipper he goes.pic.twitter.com/TMNzCnuWoh — Jake Johnstone (@hijakejohnstone) December 26, 2017

This has acsh made me upset cos it's bad enough to say that shit to a little boy but even worse to film it and humiliate him on such a public scale. Shame on you @LewisHamilton x

— Holly x (@hollyshortall) December 26, 2017

Lewis Hamilton ... A prime example of that narrow minded uncle at Christmas who has one too many drinks and thinks his opinion is valid at the family get together https://t.co/5Ku2wXL4cU

— LR (@_LivRowley) December 26, 2017

Not everyone found it offensive, though - a number of fans defended Lewis', claiming it was simply 'banter'.

People overreacting to Lewis Hamilton having a little joke with his nephew pic.twitter.com/xcPAwOyvUs

— Baked Brit (@BakedBrit1) December 26, 2017

Lewis Hamilton ffs it's uncles banter with his nephew n having a laugh, why does everyone jump on the negative side as I bet they had a cracking Xmas and some are judging him on 6 seconds of video

— geldy (@geldy73) December 26, 2017

What do you reckon - a harmless joke or potentially damaging words?