Hamilton sparks Formula One race storm
LEWIS HAMILTON last night made the extraordinary claim that his fellow drivers are ‘complicit’ in racism if they don’t take the knee at today’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The accusation came as Formula One returns after Covid-19 against the backdrop of George Floyd’s killing by a white policeman in Minneapolis.
Hamilton, who qualified second behind Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas and a place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, has taken up the fight for black rights in recent weeks and is contemplating how to make his own public statement as he lines up for the national anthem this afternoon. All the drivers will wear t-shirts carrying the legend ‘End Racism’. Some are willing to take the knee, while others resent being pressured by Hamilton to do so. The Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) were still considering their plan of action last night.
Referring to the differences of opinion, six-time world champion Hamilton said: ‘We know there is an issue (with racism in the sport) so we don’t need an experience like tomorrow to prove that.’ Revealing what he told a meeting of the GPDA on Friday night, Hamilton added: ‘I thanked those that have said something on their social media platforms because they have a great voice. ‘I encouraged those who haven’t to say something. I told them silence is complicit.
‘There is still silence in some cases.’
Bottas upset the odds to beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position for today’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix by just 12 hundredths of a second.
World champion Hamilton had dominated the weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, topping every practice session.
But Bottas delivered when it mattered most yesterday to prevent his Mercedes team-mate from opening the defence of his title with top slot on the grid.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third, with young Briton Lando Norris delivering the best performance of his career to qualify fourth for McLaren.
Ferrari headed into the new campaign fearing they would be trailing the big-hitting teams. And their dread was confirmed here when Sebastian Vettel was eliminated from the second phase of qualifying. The four-time world champion qualified only 11th, 1.2 seconds off the pace.