Hamilton: "In other sports they do kneel as a unity"
F1 News
- GPblog.com
In order to make a fist against racism worldwide, there are all kinds of initiatives in which people make their voices heard. This is also the case in Formula 1, where a moment was taken to kneel before the British Grand Prix last weekend - for anyone who felt compelled to do so. Lewis Hamilton, the main catalyst for the moment against racism, has indicated that he hopes that everyone eventually kneels. This to create a sense of unity.
Kneeling one is free
It's up to each driver to decide how they express themselves in the demonstrative moment. The majority of the drivers kneel, but a few remain standing. The message is clear thanks in part to the t-shirts with matching print, but Hamilton hopes that in time there will be more unity. However, he is very satisfied with the organized moment during last weekend's Grand Prix, which went much better than before.
"I won't tell what my opinion is about whether everyone should kneel or not", says the British driver at Motorsport.com. "If you look at other sports, like basketball or Spanish and Italian football teams, there they do it as a unity." That's still a bit missing in Formula 1, but Hamilton hopes it will come with time.
Understand each other better
For every driver the motivation to kneel or not kneel is different and this may be due to the situation in his home country. According to Hamilton this is not a good reason, because in other sports that unity is there, where athletes also come from countries that think differently. "I hope that little by little we get more and more together and become more a unity."
In the end Hamilton does say that he sees positive progress, he says: "I am very proud that all drivers wear T-shirts with 'End Racism', I think there is progress." However, Magnussen decided not to kneel down last weekend, because it doesn't fit his thinking. Hamilton has nothing to say about this, since he hasn't spoken to the Dane about it yet.
Nevertheless Hamilton respects the Haas driver's choice: "I think we will try to understand each other better and the most important thing is that the drivers continue to respect each other, I think. Maybe there should be more conversations. I know that Formula 1 has not talked to the drivers and probably no one else individually."
In other words: Hamilton is happy with how things are going now, but certainly sees room for improvement. Furthermore, it is especially noticeable that Hamilton strives for unity, this because it would carry an even stronger message.