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Hamilton: F1 has to do a better job with equality messages

Published on 20 Jul 2020 10:04
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By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1 must collectively do more to improve the 'End Racism' message it sends during grand prix weekends.

On Sunday, drivers once more opted to show a sign of solidarity against injustice and inequality, with a brief gesture underneath the podium before the start of the race.

However, the process was messy, as several drivers were late and didn't know where to stand, before the display was quickly stopped with the start of the national anthem.

Hamilton took aim at Romain Grosjean, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association. Hamilton says the Frenchman “doesn’t think it’s important to do. He’s one of them that thinks it was done once and that’s all we need to do.”

Hamilton added: "I tried to speak to him about what the problem is and it’s not going away and we have to continue to fight for equality.

Hamilton explained that he had been in private contact with Sebastian Vettel, who is also a director of the GPDA, who understands the importance of the matter.

“I think this time he [Grosjean] didn’t mention anything in the drivers’ briefing and neither did Sebastian,” he said. “Sebastian and I messaged each other and he stressed as did I the importance that we continue to do it.

“I think moving forwards we need to speak to Formula 1, they’ve got to do a better job.It was such a rush. Us getting out of the car, running over, quickly doing the knee, they need to do more.

“I don’t know why they’ve only done it for the first race, they did the start, they’ve not done it since then. They’ve come out saying they’re going to be fighting for diversity and end racism but they’re not giving us the platform to continue to do that. It’s all rushed.

"I think they can give us more time, so I’ll probably send an email over the next couple of days, and try and co-ordinate with them because they want to do it, I guess there’s not good enough communication.”

Some drivers have chosen not to take a knee, however Hamilton hopes by the final race of the year, all 20 drivers will have come around to the movement.

“With the other drivers, there’s not a lot I can do,” Hamilton said. "I gave a lot of energy in Austria to try and convince a couple of the drivers, and it’s a battle.

“But I think what’s important is the ones that are doing it, the understanding is fantastic. My dream is that one day the other drivers come around to it and if we get to the last race and we’re all kneeling down and showing that we are united, I think that would be beautiful.”

f1dave

Posts: 782

How about no displays one way or the other, just get in the cars and race.

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Jul 20 2020 - 15:46

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Mercedes

Replies (7)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Wow, way to backtalk Grosjean there.
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- Jul 20 2020 - 10:29
Dert38

Posts: 377
perstappen lmao wtf
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- Jul 20 2020 - 11:30
f1dave

Posts: 782
How about no displays one way or the other, just get in the cars and race.
- + 1
- Jul 20 2020 - 15:46
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
Grosjean should be ashamed of himself, if this is true. As a leader of an organisation, you have to step up to whatever the demands are at he time, our step down and let someone else take over. He is surely embarrassed by this. Hamilton is doing the right thing, look what Billie Jean King did for tennis and equality, Arthur Ashe..Hamilton is doing the right thing and history will judge that to be the case. Giving in is weak, it just maintains the status quo.
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- Jul 20 2020 - 21:36
f1ski

Posts: 726
As I have said before the inequality has more to do about economic issues. Lewis has contributed to a research foundation? What Lewis does is all about privilege. Why doesn't he give up his seat to an upcoming driver? More complicated than just talking about it. Hamiltons approach is no different than politicians.
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- Jul 20 2020 - 22:16
- greatbigdong
  
  Posts: 53
  Inequality is a lot more than just economic. Inequality is in everything that happens in almost every industry and every part of life. For Hamilton, it would have been harder for him to get through the lower categories simply because of his colour - teams would feel he was less marketable, some would even think he was less capable - simply because of his skin and peoples preconceived ideas of what that means. I fully support what HAM is trying to do along with the whole BLM movement for every corner. I am unsure how economics has a lot to do with high incarceration rates of people with colour, along with many other examples.
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  Jul 21 2020 - 01:16
Sjembek

Posts: 8
You've had your podium Lewis. F1 has cooperated while daf had not had to. All tracks are packed with End Racism and We Race As One commercials. Be grateful. You made your point. Stop playing now and keep imposing your opinion on others. Let your colleagues appreciate and let them decide for themselves whether and how much they want to work against racism. No one likes a drammer and is perceived as negative, no matter how good the goal is. People get a negative association with the charity by droning. It backfires. Feel free to take action, but in your own time.
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- Jul 21 2020 - 13:46