HAMILTON REVS UP FOR RACE ROW BEFORE F1 OPENER

LEWIS HAMILTON has sparked a race row after blasting the lack of diversity in Formula One.

Britain’s fourtime world champion (right) posted a video on his Instagram account, which showed the paddock in Melbourne, ahead of tomorrow’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix. And the accompanying words (right) said: “There is barely any diversity in Formula One. “Still nothing has changed in 11 years here. Kids, people there are so many jobs in this sport in which anybody, no matter their ethnicity or background can make it and fit in. #diversity #ucandoit’.” F1 bosses did not comment when asked for a response to Hamilton’s claims.

But Red Bull team chief Christian Horner reckons Hamilton was being unfair.

“I haven’t counted the demographics, but Formula One is multicultural,” said Horner. And, in an off-mic response to a question directed to Sebastian Vettel about pressure at the official press conference yesterday, Hamilton whispered to the German: “Blacks don’t crack.”

Hamilton had also been caught up in a race row at the Monaco Grand Prix back in 2011 when he fumed at stewards after twice being hit by penalties during the race.

At the time, he fumed: “It’s an absolute frickin’ joke.

“I’ve been to see the stewards five times out of six this season.

“Maybe it’s because I’m black – that’s what Ali G says.”