Hamilton vow as he makes Black Power salutes at GP
● Briton celebrates Styrian GP win with Black Power salutes and says he will campaign for equal rights for rest of life
Lewis Hamilton vowed to fight racism for the rest of his life after performing two Black Power salutes following his stunning victory in the Syrian Grand Prix in Austria yesterday.
The gestures were a nod in the direction of Africanamerican 200m runners’ Tommie Smith and John Carlos – who first performed the anti-racism protest after taking gold and bronze respectively at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
Before the race, Hamilton took a knee for the second week in a row. He was joined by 11 of the 20 drivers in what is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable image for the sport’s bosses.
Hamilton said: “We have to continue to push for equality and raise awareness. For me personally, it is going to be a lifelong thing.”
Lewis Hamilton celebrated the 85th victory of his Formula One career by performing a Black Power salute – and then vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting racism.
In the moments after a truly dominant performance to win the Styrian Grand Prix, Hamilton stood on top of his black Mercedes car, clenching his right fist in the air.
Then, after collecting his winner’s silverware, Hamilton, now with his helmet off, looked down on the tarmac. Holding the gold trophy in his left hand, he sent his clenched right fist skywards.
Hamilton’spowerfulcelebrations against the backdrop of the Styrian Mountains were a nod in the direction of African-american 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.
Before the race, Hamilton took a knee for the second week in a row. He was joined by 11 of the 20 drivers in what is becoming an increasingly uncomfortable image for the sport’s bosses.
Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas took the lead in dropping to the tarmac, but some drivers stood, some arrived late, and others were not even there. The grid is appearing increasingly divided on the subject.
It should also be noted that the TV feed bizarrely cut to a Red Bull parachutist as Hamilton, wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt, knelt.
“We spoke about it in the drivers’ briefing and what we intended to do,” said Hamilton. “Some were asking how long we have to continue to do this. Some felt like doing it once last week was enough.
“I just had to encourage them and say that racism is going to be around for longer than our time here.
“People of colour who are subjected to racism don’t have time to take a moment to protest once and then for that to be it.
“We have to continue to push for equality and raise awareness. For me personally, it is going to be a lifelong thing.”
F1 chairman Chase Carey has vowed to put in $1 million of his own money to improve diversity in the sport he rules. The FIA has also pledged more than £900,000.
But Hamilton, 35, added: “Although it is great to see Chase being so kind to donate the million dollars, and it has been great to see the FIA step up, if you don’t know the problem you don’t fix it, and a million dollars doesn’t go that far. A lot of work needs to go on in Formula One and the FIA really needs to be a part of it – and the drivers, too because we all have great platforms.”
Following his poor performance at the same venue last weekend, Hamilton has been in mesmerising form at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring this weekend. He laid the groundwork for yesterday’s triumph with quite possibly his greatest performance over one lap in Saturday’s rain-hit qualifying session.
Hamilton finished 1.2 seconds faster than anyone else at a track with just ten corners. Yesterday, he roared away from his starting marks and never looked back – taking the chequered flag 13.7sec clear of Bottas.
Bottas completed a onetwo for Mercedes when he overtook Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with just four laps remaining. And it is the Finn who holds a six-point lead over Hamilton in the championship ahead of next week’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Red Bull driver Alexander Albon finished fourth, while Lando Norris turned in another impressive display for Mclaren.
The 20-year-old, who last week became the youngest Briton to stand on a grand prix podium, overtook both Racing Point cars on the last lap, Sergio Perez at the final bend, to finish fifth. He is now a nosebleeding third in the standings.