Lewis Hamilton wishes for more unity in the fight against racism while comparing the divided support from F1 to other sports.
Lewis Hamilton since day one has been vocal about anti-racism movement ever since the killing of George Floyd sparked the protests across the world.
But at the same time hasn’t been satisfied with Formula 1’s response to racism. He also criticized the divided support from his colleagues as 7 of the 20 drivers refused to kneel before the British Grand Prix.
Kimi Räikkönen: “I think everyone has the right to act the way they see fit. We are of course all against racism and we have shown our support. But I don’t think we need to explain if we don’t take knee or whatever we do. It is everyone’s personal choice.”#Kimi7 #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tDASoifXNv
— Kimi Räikkönen #7 (@FansOfKR) July 31, 2020
On the other hand, comparing F1’s stance from the initial days till British GP has become better and organized claims Hamilton, but also wishes people to be more united referring to a bunch of his rivals not taking a knee.
He pointed at the universal support seen in other sports, such as Premier League football, despite a mix of nationalities among players and personnel.
“I’m not going to tell you my opinion on whether everyone needs to [take a knee] or not,” Hamilton said. “But if you look at all the other sports – look at basketball, look at football, Spanish teams, Italian teams, teams all over the world – no matter what nationality or mixture, they are all doing it united.
“You’ve got players from Russia, players from Spain. So I think it is a work in progress. But when the reason for perhaps not doing it is how you think it would be perceived in your country, all you have to do is look at the other sports, because they are doing it.”
“So I do hope that bit by bit we can come more and more together and more united. Hamilton said he was yet to speak to Magnussen about why he did not take a knee but said the wider focus was on helping improve the understanding of the matter among the drivers.”
“I am proud of all the drivers wearing the end racism t-shirts and I think there is progression,” Hamilton said. I don’t know why Magnussen hadn’t done it, I’ve not spoken to him.”
Magnussen was the recent addition in the drivers who didn’t take part in kneeling but was standing with others in the pre-race ceremony. Most of the drivers standing referred to concerns over the connotations of taking a knee in their own cultures.
Much better organisation in anti-racism protest before British GP. Magnussen joins the original six who did not kneel at the Austrian GP. The rest take the knee. pic.twitter.com/V0tkkjXs4P
— Nate Saunders (@natesaundersF1) August 2, 2020
“But I think we will just try to improve each other’s understanding, and I think the most important thing is that the drivers continue to have respect for each other.
“Maybe there is a need for more conversations. I know Formula 1 hasn’t spoken to any of the drivers, and nobody else has probably spoken to them individually.”
Jean Todt thinks opposite of Lewis Hamilton but admires him
Despite kneeling being a popular form of protest against racism across the globe. FIA chief Jean Todt finds it inappropriate to obligate the drivers to kneel.
However, he claims that he admires the leadership and initiative to add diversity in the sport. Todt recently sparked controversy when he publicly said “All Lives Matter”– dropping a response to the current dialogue around racism.
