“I saw after the US Open”- Daniel Ricciardo on how he got inspired by Naomi Osaka before wearing a mask scribbled equality over it.
Daniel Ricciardo before the FP1 on Friday appeared wearing a mask written equality on it, showing solidarity support to anti-racism movement across the globe.
Ricciardo later confirmed that his move was somewhat inspired by Naomi Osaka, as the Japanese Tennis star did a similar thing before registering her triumph in the US Open, scribbling the name of victims of racial injustices on different masks.
“I saw after the US Open, was it Naomi? I saw what she’d done with her face mask and I was like this is a very strong voice for us, it is prime real estate,” began Ricciardo.
“I’m raising some sort of awareness, if somebody sees it and they’re like, ‘actually you’re right, let’s be kinder to people and they’ll be kinder in return’ – it should be that simple.”
Lewis Hamilton also inspired by Osaka
Ricciardo is not the only driver in the paddock to be inspired by Osaka as Lewis Hamilton has claimed that even he is inspired by her. “We have to continue to raise awareness [of inequality] and Naomi has been doing amazing,” he said.
“So huge congratulations to her, and I think she’s an incredible inspiration with what she’s done with her platform. I think we just have to continue to push on the issue,” Hamilton said at the last race at Mugello.”
