“We can do more”: Lewis Hamilton shows understanding for the cancellation of the kneeling ceremony and urges to now follow gestures with deeds
Formula 1’s decision to scrap the special pre-race kneeling ceremony for the 2022 season has the support of Lewis Hamilton – known for his commitment to the fight against racism. He, too, believes that we should now move from gestures to action.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali had justified the move by saying. “Now it’s time to move on and take other measures,” the Italian stressed, extending funding for a scholarship programme for engineers until the end of 2025.
Asked about it on the sidelines of the Formula One test, Hamilton stressed, “It’s about making a difference now, so I’m looking forward to seeing that over a period of time. (…) We can’t just talk about these things and make these gestures, but we have to actually do something. “
“I don’t know if we need this one moment. We should actually be able to do it anytime, anywhere. (…) I think we can do more and somehow be more effective. But I don’t know exactly what that will look like yet.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes team raced in an all-black livery in 2020 and 2021 to send a strong anti-racism message, but has reverted to its traditional silver design for this season’s W13.
Together with Hamilton, the team has launched its Accelerate 25 programme to improve diversity and inclusion within its own team. Since its launch in December 2020, “promising progress” has been made and the original targets have even been exceeded, it says.
Hamilton himself continues to actively campaign for more diversity and equal opportunities in motorsport through the Hamilton Commission and his charity “Mission 44”.
