Lewis clear to carry on taking a knee

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

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

Both F1’s American owners Liberty Media and governing body the FIA will inform the six-time world champion 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 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, said: “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 added: “Formula One’s position is clear. Racism has no place in our sport.”