Hamilton praises F1’s ‘much better job’ with anti-racism message

Lewis Hamilton felt Formula 1 did “a much better job” with its anti-racism message at the British Grand Prix, though he questioned the reasoning of some drivers who still refused to take the knee.

After Hamilton led heavy criticism over the rushed arrangement at the previous race in Hungary, F1 and the FIA responded by allocating a designated period in the pre-race schedule at Silverstone for drivers to show their support in the sport’s fight against racism.

All 20 drivers took part in the more organised and formal demonstration on the grid prior to the British Grand Prix, which drew praise from Hamilton, who had spoken to GPDA director Romain Grosjean, F1 chiefs Ross Brawn and Chase Carey, plus the FIA president Jean Todt on the matter.

“I think that Formula 1 did a much, much better job after a lot of discussion, a lot of talking last week about how we can come together and do a better job,” the Briton said after claiming his seventh British Grand Prix victory.

“You could see [it] was a lot more professional. I’m really proud of all the drivers wearing the ‘end racism’ T-shirt, I think there’s progression.”

Kevin Magnussen opted against taking a knee, joining the six other F1 drivers who have done so since the beginning of the season.

“I don’t know why Magnussen hasn’t [taken a knee], I have not spoken to him,” Hamilton said. “But bit by bit I think we’ll just try to improve each other’s understanding.

“The most important thing is the drivers continue to have respect for each other, I think, which we do. Maybe there just needs to be more conversation. I know that Formula 1 hasn’t spoken to any of the drivers and no one else perhaps probably has spoken to them individually.”

Hamilton did challenge his rivals reasoning for not taking a knee, pointing to the fact that the gesture has become widespread in other sports, including the English Football Premier League.

“I’m not going to tell you what my opinion on whether or not everyone needs to or not,” he explained.

“But if you look at all the other sports, look at basketball, you look at football and Spanish teams, Italian teams, teams all over the world, no matter what nationality or mixture they are, they’re all doing it united. You’ve got players from Russia you’ve got players from Spain.

“When the reason for perhaps not doing it is how you think it will feel how would it be perceived in your country, all you have to do is look at the other sports because they are doing it.

“So I do hope that bit by bit we can come more and more together and more united.”