Breaking news
Formula 1
Hamilton will continue to kneel in F1 2021
Lewis Hamilton says he will continue to kneel ahead of Formula 1 races in the 2021 season, as part of the ongoing push to achieve global racial equality.
Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Mar 25, 2021, 6:58 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
This year, F1 will again hold a pre-race moment for drivers to express their personal views following the ceremony's introduction in 2020 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that followed the killing of George Floyd.
A change has been made ahead of the 2021 season, with the moment no longer being held on a banner displaying the words 'End Racism' and instead taking place on one highlighting F1's 'We Race as One' initiative.
When asked about what he intends to do this year regarding protesting against racism and continuing to highlight the need to improve diversity in motorsport, Hamilton said: "I plan to continue to take the knee.
"Because I think what's really important is when young children are watching what we're doing here in this sport.
"And when they see us take the knee, they will sit and ask their parents or their teachers, 'Why are they doing that? What are they taking the knee for?'
"It sparks an uncomfortable conversation. It means parents have to educate themselves. And the kids are getting educated.
"It's a fight that's not won. It's a fight that will continue on for a long time, I'm sure. But definitely I think we're in a good time where conversation is healthy."
Hamilton, who was speaking in the pre-race press conference for this weekend's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, explained how his actions in 2020 "definitely felt empowering to not be silent, like some may want you to be".
"It definitely felt that on the one side, taking the knee on a personal level, to let the black community know that I hear you, I see you and I stand with you – that was important for me," he continued.
"But along the way, there's so many things that we need to address around the world. And naturally, I can't fix everything. But I naturally want to help.
"I think we have, as I mentioned last year, an amazing platform here.
"I think it's great to see the steps that Formula 1 are taking, the steps Mercedes are taking in terms of making this sport more diverse."
Hamilton also stated how he "can't ignore the fact" that his work to promote the causes he cares for passionately "weighed heavily on me" in 2020.
He added: "As I get older, I'm understanding more. I think we all like to think we went through an educational phase last year. We're all learning more, there was a lot more discussion.
"I was watching more documentaries, I was reading a huge amount more – trying to educate myself on the things that are happening around the world. And that hasn't stopped through the winter, also."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Vettel names Aston Martin F1 car after Bond girl
Next article Mercedes: "Unknown" how much we've recovered after testing
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
More from
Lewis Hamilton
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Formula 1
Formula 1 3 h
F1 driver contracts: How long is each driver tied down for?
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Max Verstappen on Ferrari clashes: "I would never sign two number-one drivers"
Latest news
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
53 min
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
3 h
The Kimi Antonelli you don't know: Inside the Mercedes garage with F1's new world champion
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe