‘IGNORANT’ BERNIE HITS BACK AT HAMILTON
BERNIE ECCLESTONE last night told Lewis Hamilton that Formula One is not racist. The 89-year-old creator of modern grand prix racing has hit back at the six-time world champion after his crusading for Black Lives Matter, including encouraging his fellow drivers to take a knee and striking a ‘Black Power’ salute after winning in Austria earlier this month. Hamilton, 35, has called Ecclestone ‘ignorant and uneducated’ for his claims that there is no discrimination in the sport. ‘Lewis could start by making people aware that those who are other than white are employed by teams and are given the same opportunities,’ said Ecclestone. ‘Lewis, you state I am uneducated and ignorant. I have the same level of schooling as you. ‘At least I had a reason — I was at school during the last war, not always under the best conditions. ‘You are lucky because, if I had been properly educated perhaps Formula One would not be as it was for you to benefit as you have. I have done well out of it, too, but I was making money before I was in Formula One. ‘When you win another championship, it will be by your talent, and being in the right place at the right time. ‘Like most successful people, you have had a little bit of luck and worked hard. But you are a special driver and a special person. ‘Don’t think about what your skin colour is; think about what colour your mind is. ‘We are all humans with the same movements. We must think in the same way. ‘Don’t envy others. Just improve and catch up. We all have something different from others. Some of us are shorter, taller, slimmer, bigger, better looking. We were all born the same way and this is how we should live.’