Hamilton to continue taking a knee at races

Formula One bosses will not stop Lewis Hamilton from continuing to take a knee at races this season.

Hamilton knelt before the first round in Austria, and subsequently revealed he would carry on performing the gesture if he was provided with a platform to do so by the sport.

It is understood that both F1’s American owners, Liberty Media, and governing body, the FIA, will inform Britain’s six-time world champion that he is free to kneel at the next instalment of the championship in Austria this weekend and for the remainder of the year.

The final decision is set to rest with the drivers, who are likely to discuss the divisive subject again in Spielberg on Friday.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, were among six who elected to stand in the moments before Sunday’s race. Both posted messages saying they were committed to the fight for equality. But it is believed that some of the drivers who knelt last weekend could now decide to stand on Sunday.

The Spanish driver Carlos Sainz was among those who stood. His McLaren boss, the American Zak Brown, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There was unity on the grid.

“It depends how you view people’s actions. All the drivers were very clear that they support ending racism. People are entitled to express their views in different ways, so I personally don’t think one gesture is necessarily how you have to do that.”

F1’s motorsport boss Ross Brawn said: “Formula One’s position is clear – racism has no place in our sport. We want more diversity and we want more inclusion and we are doing everything we can to facilitate that going forwards.

“The drivers coming together on the grid ahead of the racing was a powerful message, with people free to support this fight in their own personal way.

“Drivers have thrown their support behind the campaign and are open and honest about their own role in advocating for change.”

Lewis Hamilton: Free to show his support.