Led by Lewis Hamilton, 14 Formula 1 drivers take a knee before Austrian Grand Prix
Nearly three-quarters of the Formula 1 grid took a knee ahead of the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.
The 20 drivers all wore black shirts ahead of the race, many with shirts that said “end racism.” Defending F1 champ Lewis Hamilton wore a shirt that said “Black Lives Matter.” Hamilton is the only Black driver in Formula 1.
Hamilton and 13 others then took a knee before the race.
End Racism.
One cause. One commitment.
As individuals, we choose our own way to support the cause. As a group of drivers and a wider F1 family, we are united in its goal.#WeRaceAsOne pic.twitter.com/qjxYi1zWcJ— Formula 1 (@F1) July 5, 2020
Hamilton has been incredibly outspoken about racial inequality in recent weeks and said he had been taking notice of those who were staying silent about social justice issues. Hamilton is a six-time Formula 1 champion — only Michael Schumacher has more titles — and has the biggest platform of any driver in the world.
Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver racing full-time in NASCAR, took note of Formula 1’s display of solidarity. Wallace wore a shirt that said “Black Lives Matter” ahead of NASCAR races in June.
Strong message from the @F1 field!#endracism #BlackLivesMatter
✊🏾— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) July 5, 2020
Sunday’s Formula 1 race was the first of the 2020 season after the coronavirus pandemic stopped the season just before it was set to begin in Australia in March. The series is racing throughout Europe in a modified schedule through the first weekend of September with the rest of the season’s slate to be determined later this summer.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
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