Lewis says F1 gesture will live with him forever

LEWIS Hamilton said performing the Black Power salute after winning last weekend’s Styrian Grand Prix was a moment he will never forget.

After a truly dominant performance at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, Hamilton stood on top of his black Mercedes car, clenching his right fist in the air.

Then, after collecting his winner’s silverware, Hamilton looked down on the tarmac before sending his clenched right fist skywards for a second time.

Hamilton’s powerful gestures were inspired by the AfricanAmerican 200m runners’ Tommie Smith and John Carlos – who first performed the anti-racism gesture after taking gold and bronze respectively at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.

“I remember witnessing, seeing and reading about their experience and seeing the iconic image of their salute,” said Hamilton, 35, ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

“That was inspiring for me. It felt like the right moment, an important moment for me, and I will never forget it.

“Racism is something that has been around for hundreds of years and currently continues. When you’ve got icons, people like that who’ve stood up against this battle, I just find it inspiring.

“I took a page out of their book, realising that I have this platform, I have this opportunity to continue to raise awareness, try and unite people, and educate myself but also educate other people and that was really where it came from.”

Hamilton heads into the third race of the season in Hungary six points adrift of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the championship standings.

He is aiming to win the race at the Hungaroring for an eighth time and third in succession. n LANDO Norris has revealed he flew back to the UK to see a specialist in a bid to prove his fitness for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old McLaren driver sits third in the Formula One world championship after a mightily impressive start to the new season.

But his last outing at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg was plagued by both chest and back pains.

Norris left Austria for London after the race last Sunday in a bid to resolve the issue.

After undergoing a series of scans, he arrived in Budapest on Wednesday evening for the final round of three successive races.

“I went back to the UK, staying in my bubble, to see a specialist for a scan,” said Norris. “We diagnosed the problem and I’m feeling better for this week, which is a very good thing.

“It’s not something that is going to heal completely overnight but I’m much better.”