F1 Gossip: Ecclestone says Black Lives Matter movement is 'using' Hamilton

In the latest F1 gossip column, ex-Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone believes the Black Lives Matter movement is profiting from Lewis Hamilton’s superstar status.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Ecclestone said: “But I’ve said to his father [Anthony Hamilton], ‘Lewis needs to be careful. Because he’s being used by the people who are supporting this Black Lives Matter and they are taking a lot of money from it. And nobody knows where it goes.”

Ecclestone also thinks F1 shouldn’t be used as a “political tool”, stating gestures such as taking the knee and anti-racism t-shirts wouldn’t have happened under his stewardship.

He added: “If I’d have still been around there wouldn’t have been anyone wearing [anti-racism] T-shirts on the podium, that’s for sure. “100 per cent, there wouldn’t have been this business of kneeling before races. I agree the sport should do more to encourage diversity but it shouldn’t be used as a [political] tool.”

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