Hamilton expects F1 drivers to make anti-racism stand in Austria

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton anticipates that he and his fellow drivers will make a visual stand against racism on the grid prior to Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

After championing F1’s push for greater diversity in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing of George Floyd in the United States, Hamilton has been widely tipped to ‘take a knee’ on the grid before this weekend’s season-opening race gets underway at the Red Bull Ring.

But when asked if he plans to take a knee on the grid during F1’s new remote FIA press conference on Thursday, Hamilton replied: “We haven’t all spoken, but I am sure during this weekend we will.

“It’s not been on the top of my mind and I’ve been asked the question multiple times and it’s not really been a priority for me to have a plan to come and kneel at the start-line, so we will see Sunday.”

Heading into the weekend, McLaren’s Lando Norris suggested all drivers could get involved in an anti-racism gesture as an F1-wide act of solidarity, and his team principal Andreas Seidl has backed his drivers to do as they wish regarding a possible united show of support.

Hamilton, whose Mercedes team has changed its traditional silver livery to an all-black colour scheme as part of a wider diversity push for the upcoming season, said he is “sure” the drivers will make a stand given it is the first race of the new campaign.

“As drivers we will all stand to represent something,” the six times world champion explained.

“I think whatever we do, we will try to do it united. I think it’s really important we become united in this sport. We really do have to fight for the injustices and inequality. It has to be sustainable.

“It’s not enough to just take a moment and post #BlackOutTuesday or whatever it may be and then just go back to your regular lives. It has to continue and we have to stay on it.

“Black people don’t have the privileged of being able to take a moment out. It’s something we have to stay on top of. We all have to come together.

“Our voices are powerful and if we bring them together collectively, we can have a huge impact.”