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Lewis Hamilton led a majority of the 20 Formula One drivers in taking a knee in a gesture of anti-racism solidarity on the grid earlier than the beginning of the belated season-opening Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. Hamilton wore a Black Lives Matter t-shirt, whereas different drivers, who all lined up with him on the entrance of the grid, sported black tops saying “End racism”. Six of the 20 drivers remained standing in the course of the protest earlier than the Austrian nationwide anthem.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had confirmed a break up amongst F1 drivers once they stated they might not take a knee on the grid, however that they remained dedicated to preventing racism.
Defending six-time champion Hamilton, who had been relegated to fifth on the grid from second following a Red Bull protest an hour earlier than the beginning, bowed his head as he took a knee on the entrance.
Hamilton, the game’s solely black race winner and champion, has been outspoken in his assist for the anti-racism motion Black Lives Matter (BLM) because the demise final month of black American George Floyd beneath the knee of a police officer.
He known as for a change in his sport and launched his personal fee.
In addition to Leclerc and Verstappen, drivers Carlos Sainz of McLaren, Danil Kvyat of Alpha Tauri, Antonio Giovinazzi and Alfa Romeo team-mate Kimi Raikkonen selected to not take a knee.
In an announcement on Twitter, Leclerc had stated: “All 20 drivers stand united with their teams against racism and prejudice, at the same time embracing the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion, supporting F1’s and FIA’s commitment.
“I imagine that what issues are details and behaviours in our every day life quite than formal gestures that could possibly be seen as controversial in some international locations. I can’t take the knee however this doesn’t imply in any respect that I’m much less dedicated than others within the struggle towards racism.”
The Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) had issued a statement on Saturday claiming that the drivers’ were united in opposing racism, but supporting each individual in being free to choose how to express their positions.
Jean Todt, president of Formula One’s ruling body the FIA, told reporters at Spielberg, however, that sport should be wary of allowing itself to be used by political influences.
“Sometimes there’s a tendency to make use of it as a weapon and we have now to be very cautious of that, however I like individuals who have conviction and do as a lot as they’ll,” he said.
It is believed that some of the drivers have been upset by Hamilton equating “silence” with a supposed level of unconscious racism in the F1 paddock.
The debate over taking a knee comes as FIA pledged to give one million euros ($1.1m) to the sport’s new ‘We Race As One’ diversity foundation.
Todt said it was “a primary step – and extra will come”.
“We ought to struggle any type of discrimination and notably on account of pores and skin color, faith, ethnic or social origin.”
The FIA’s cash will go to boost the programme established by Formula One’s chief executive Chase Carey who launched the initiative with $1 million of his own money.
Promoted
The foundation is designed to help finance internships and apprenticeships in F1 for under-represented groups by ensuring there are opportunities for them to fulfil their potential.
“We should promote variety in motorsport and that’s the reason we determined to offer a million euros in contribution to the brand new devoted basis created by F1,” stated Todt.
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