Lewis Hamilton committed to the field of minorities

Lewis Hamilton is a very committed driver. Being the first black driver to reach Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton feels obligated to take action and set an example for the younger and less fortunate. « I have to set an example for the younger ones: we must intervene if we see or hear something that we don’t like. »

He did it often, even on the track, with the “Black lives matter” movement following the death of George Floyd. He then took a knee and raised his fist in the air before the start of a Grand Prix to demand justice.

During an interview on Canal+ before the French Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton opens up about this non-sport-related subject. Being a regular participant in karting competitions in France, he then addresses the discrimination he faced when he was young, being the only driver of color. « It is also in karting that I received the most abusive messages. », he explained.

If Hamilton wants to contribute to improving his sport and the human race, other drivers seem less committed. When asked if he feels alone in his struggles, he prefers to let everyone do their own thing and hopes that at some point his colleagues will be more engaged.

People sometimes feel like it doesn’t concern them, but we all belong to the human race. It is our responsibility to move forward together. I encourage my fellow drivers to get more involved, but I don’t want to push them into it. I imagine that at some point in their lives, they will become more engaged.

Formula 1 has found itself at the heart of political action recently with the war between Russia and Ukraine. The drivers, supporting Ukraine in the fight at the beginning of the season, even displayed a support banner. However, Formula 1 has not always accepted the actions of all the drivers.

Thus, t-shirts with personalized messages are now banned, and the FIA requires drivers to keep their race suits on during post-race interviews and official ceremonies to avoid any controversies. We particularly remember Lewis Hamilton’s t-shirts in support of black lives with the “Black Lives Matter” movement, but also following the arrests of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor during the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix.

Formula 1 had then decided to formalize things during the 2021 season with the implementation of an official “End Racism” message during the opening ceremony of each Grand Prix. Hamilton is therefore very influential in Formula 1, but that’s not all. On Instagram, the British driver has nearly 30 million followers. For comparison, Barack Obama, former President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, has 35 million followers, while football player Cristiano Ronaldo has ten times as many.

Lewis Hamilton has been notably listed among the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020 by The Times. The British driver advocates for minority causes, not only for people of color but also regarding sexual orientation. He supports LGBT+ causes and promotes open-mindedness. Earlier this year, Hamilton was even knighted as a member of the Order of the British Empire, endorsed by the Prince. Very few British Formula One drivers have received this honor. Only Sir Franck Williams, Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, and Sir Patrick Head.

Currently on the grid with 19 other Formula 1 drivers, Sebastian Vettel is the only driver who is very involved but in a different field. The German driver carries messages (sometimes also on his helmet) related to environmental and animal protection every time he arrives in the paddocks.