The FIA will not be investigating Lewis Hamilton for the T-Shirt he wore during the podium ceremony at Mugello.

The world champion wore a black T-Shirt bearing the words "Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" on the front and "Say Her Name" on the back.

It was thought the T-Shirt breached FIA's statutes that require that competitors "refrain from manifesting discrimination on account of race, skin colour, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the course of its activities", while the sporting code forbids competitors from "affixing to their automobiles advertising that is political or religious in nature or that is prejudicial to the interests of the FIA".

While the sport's governing body is to consider whether the T-Shirt breached its rules, it has ruled out an official investigation.

As a condition for entering the Formula One World Championship entrants undertake to follow all rules on behalf of their team members.

However, from the outset, Mercedes has supported Hamilton's actions, insisting that Sunday's T-Shirt was about human rights not politics.

However, the rules make clear that no messages of a political or religious nature can be displayed on cars, equipment or team apparel, while race promoters are also forbidden from running signage at their tracks bearing such messages.

Taking to Instagram, Hamilton wrote: "Want you to know I won't stop using this platform to shed light on what I believe is right.

"This is a journey for all of us to come together and challenge the world on every level of injustice, not only racial.

The world champion went on to thank "those of you who continue to support me and show love, I am so grateful".

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Editor, 16/09/2020 8:12 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"In this the strangest of seasons, it still seems odd that Lewis Hamilton's 'activism' generates more debate than his driving.

To physically close this post to debate would mean the erasing of the various comments, and no doubt someone would read something into that.

However, no further posts will be allowed. If someone does post a comment it will be deleted and we will consider whether to ban them from further comments. Unlike the FIA we will act.

As that last line is open to misinterpretation, may I just say that Jean Todt - who never usually shies away from the limelight - has remained unusually quiet on the matter, instead allowing an 'anonymous' FIA spokesperson to issue soundbites.

In the current atmosphere, it would appear that you are condemned if you do or if you don't, with the various 'mobs' keen to jump all over you whatever side of the debate they perceive you as being on.

I have worked too bloody hard, invested too much sweat, money and heartache into this site to risk it being compromised by issues it has absolutely nothing to do with."

Rating: Positive (12) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by *TestaRossa*, 16/09/2020 6:44

"@chickenfarmer , this is my last post now and thanks for the lessons , now i know there is no racismin in the world , it is just fact that most blacks are just lazy ,stink and are crimminals and than probably most jews are money grabbers and cannot be trusted , gypsies all steal and all arabs are troublemakers oh and native people are just drunks .
Racisism is just an invention .
Luckely we white people are superior . Thanks again.
Let us go racing mate."

Rating: Negative (-4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by aroutis, 16/09/2020 6:01 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"Good grief :" Germans in general are these days the most human people in the western world", really?
You have a really narrow field of view about the western world, claiming something like that.
I know I am way off topic here but honestly, Canada for one, (I do believe it is western world, eh?) ,cannot even compare with Germany.
Hell, EU in whole cannot even come close to Canada.
Anyways, that caught my eye and couldn't be left unanswered... and no, I am not even Canadian lol"

Rating: Negative (-3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by aroutis, 16/09/2020 5:53

"Everyone that disagrees with what Lewis did, is not a racist.
Let me be clear, if Lewis was not of color , I would (and I believe everyone that disagreed) , would still be having the same opinion.
Actually, telling people off as racists just because they voiced their opinion against what Lewis did, just because he happens to be off a different color than white, is of a racist behavior. So whoever thinks with this way , just get over yourselves, just stick with the facts and if you can or want (?) try to have some sort of use of this forum for what it is made for."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by stackvideo, 15/09/2020 23:56 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"The city of Louisville is paying the family of Breonna Taylor $16.44 million over her shooting death at the hands of police officers and also making law reforms as a result of the bungled 'no-knock' search of her apartment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-16/breonna-taylor-settlement-millions-police-shooting-no-knock/12667282. Can we now move on and talk about what this forum is all about "motor racing" Use social media to push your agenda, not the podium"

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 15/09/2020 23:15 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"@*TestaRossa* - I'll take my lessons on racism from people who've actually experienced it. Good friend grew up in the MOST dangerous housing project in NYC in the 80's is a much better teacher on that than you are. Drug dealing and using openly in the apartment building lobby and stairwells. Human waste products in the same locations. Rampant abuse and murder. He got out by joining the Marines at 17 (very unpopular decision at the time). Then got himself a college degree (engineering), and is now well on his way to millionaire status. Only problems he's had with racism have come from white liberals, the supposed best friends of minorities. Whether the racism of low expectations (e.g. affirmative action) or outright telling him he's not good enough because he's black, white liberals have been 100% of the racism he's experienced. Not some "silent majority" of bigots. And he's lived in the Deep South for many years. The "rednecks" are totally cool with him and his family and treat him with respect. And any number of his friends that are not white have told me much the same thing.

If black people don't want to get shot by the cops, it's not difficult. Don't be a criminal, and don't resist arrest. Your odds of getting shot by the cops decline to something closely approximating zero in that case. Chris Rock had a funny, but also serious video about it 10 or so years ago. Look for "How not to get your ass kicked by the police". Not much has changed.

Lewis is backing a group that is explicitly Marxist. If he wants to, that's his business. If he doesn't shove it in my face I'll keep hoping to see him win an 8th, or 9th or even 10th WDC. But if he really wants to help blacks in the USA supporting a group that is committing wanton violence and trying to abolish the police is not the way to go. That will be more likely to create divisions that weren't there in the first place than to heal any.

If he wants to really help he should donate time and money to help promising kids get the education they need to get into motor sports. Whether by sponsoring youth carting in poorer and minority areas, or scholarships for poor minority students to get to decent schools, things along those lines will actually help. If the police are abolished how will that help? Some overly militarized police departments won't kill them, but if you are right about some "silent majority" of genocidal racists existing in the USA, what will protect them from the pogroms? Thankfully you're wrong about the "silent majority" being racists. But there will be a few that will take abolishing the police as license to act with impunity. And then the vigilantism will start because there's no recourse to the law. That is a recipe for decent into oblivion, not the road to utopia.

If Lewis was only supporting reforming police tactics, and ending the War on (some) Drugs I'd be much more supportive."

Rating: Positive (4) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by *TestaRossa*, 15/09/2020 20:07

"@chickenfarmer < sorry to say boy ,but you should do a little more study in history about racism in general and not point only to cops behavior what only is an result of that at the end. Better point to the silent majority as in the thirties in Germany . I guess that is why Lewis have now the support of Merc Germans in general are these days the most human people in the western world"

Rating: Negative (-3) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by BillH, 15/09/2020 19:10 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"Hasn't Hamilton heard of Instabook and Facegram?

Using social media platforms would get much more impact than the shirt on the podium and Hamilton need not fear breaching the rules he has signed up to before competing.

There was no way the FIA were going to hammer (time) the star of the show, though a couple of races off to go sit in the corner and think about what he'd done would certainly help reduce the lead in the championship, temporarily.

@Spindoctor is right that there is rampant hypocrisy in the FIA over certain areas. I'm waiting on the Belarus GP announcement as they no doubt have a great history of motorsport too.

Back to Hamilton. The problem with showing support for a group like BLM is that for Hamilton he risks being caught up in the negative aspects of such a group. In BLM case it's the riots going for more than 100 days in some places and their historical marxist foundation along with their latest idea of chanting "we hope they die" outside the hospital where two police officers were in critical condition after being shot. Apparently there is about 5% of any group that is extreme, ruins it for the 90% (the other 5% are indifferent to the cause) of the group and the whole thing eventually collapses. The good that they were trying to achieve gets swamped.

Back to the FIA, and their "nothing to see here old boy" attitude, I just wonder what Hamilton will do next and if indeed that is Hamilton's plan. Perhaps the face mask offers a better canvas?

Then again I suspect if another message from Hamilton pops up in the near future, Merc and sponsors might have a word in Hamilton's ear, if they aren't too scared to do so. And if they are too scared then watch for "we've decided to concentrate on other marketing opportunities" as brands leave.

Mind you, I could be completely misreading this whole situation and there is sponsors queuing up to be associated with Hamilton / Merc as a result of the former's actions.

Let's hope that we can all get back to commenting on the racing and results soon."

Rating: Positive (8) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by jcr, 15/09/2020 19:06

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBPBrJ74C8I
hAMILTONS WORDS."

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

10. Posted by jcr, 15/09/2020 19:02

"SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE !!!!!!!
"

Rating: Negative (-1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

11. Posted by Spindoctor, 15/09/2020 18:29 (moderated by an Adminstrator, 16/09/2020 10:24)

"I'm sure that Lewis & BLM are delighted by the reaction of so many who want to 'keep politics out of Sport'. Their opposition to Hamilton's message has increased publicity for the cause quite a lot.

It seems that there are only 'Politics' in Sport when somebody tries to raise issues like BLM, or Global Climate Catastrophe. Is Communist Party of China, Putin & various undemocratic Middle-East rulers white-washing[sic] their regimes' repression by holding Grands Prix & other sports events really a-Political? Who believes they spend hundreds of millions of their Nations' cash out of a deep-seated love of Sport? Particularly ironic when many of their subjects often can't attend.

Demanding the arrest & of course a fair trial, of those who killed unarmed black people is hardly radical. I'd expect anyone who (for example) shot someone many times in the back to be hauled-up before a Court to explain themselves. If they can prove good reason, they have nothing to fear.
Similarly, F1 & other Sports (UK Football for example) pride themselves on promoting ideas of "Fair Play", meritocracy & excellence. I doubt many disagree with promoting those values, nor hopefully combating Racism, which in Nazi Germany led to the holocaust.

To summarise I believe Hamilton & others are promoting ideas and values of Fairness, Justice & Equality, NOT Political theses - who wants to argue that these are values which shouldn't be encouraged? We are often told Sports Stars are "role-models" and what's wrong with someone who promotes these values, along with the hard-work, dedication etc. needed to excel?

I do agree that "Politics" as in Party Politics, or the promotion of specific ideologies (see above) through Sport is wrong, and I believe that is what the FIA Rules are designed to prevent.
"

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

12. Posted by Superbird70, 15/09/2020 18:06

"@Editor- It's not the endorsement, it's the attempt to silence his opinion. much like what happened to Kapernick in the USA. Fans didn't like to be reminded of what was happening around them because it is inconveniently displayed at a sporting event. No one seems to question Bottas or Vettel wearing their shirts. Lewis gets singled out.

I don't know Dr. Lawrence, and I take you at your word that he is not a racist. It is not my place to say that of him. I will say that we all can be a biased at times. It comes from our upbringing, and I am at as much at fault as anyone.

Just look at the comments that this thread has generated. It's not all about the FIA rules and regulations. There is more to it than that."

Rating: Negative (-5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

13. Posted by alvarezh3, 15/09/2020 17:18

"Additionally, as defined by Wikipedia:

Virtue signalling is a pejorative neologism for the conspicuous and disingenuous expression of moral values with the intent to enhance ONE'S OWN IMAGE!"

Rating: Negative (-2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

14. Posted by Editor, 15/09/2020 16:45

"@ Superbird70

So, what you are essentially saying is that anyone who does not wholeheartedly endorse Lewis' campaigns - never mind whether the sport should be used as a platform for them - is a racist.

For what it's worth, Dr Mike Lawrence, who is about as liberal as one can be, is not in favour of the T-Shirt or the whole 'Taking The Knee' thing. So, according to your reasoning he is a racist."

Rating: Positive (9) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

15. Posted by ChickenFarmerF1, 15/09/2020 16:38

"@Superbird70 - I have no issue with Lewis spouting his opinion, on his own time. When I tune into a race I want to see racing. Not preaching about an issue that is completely disconnected to racing. I don't mind a driver departing from the bland corporate line, but only if it's at least somewhat connected to racing.

@Pavlo - It's called virtue signalling. The person doing gets to feel better about themselves without actually DOING anything.

Like you said, if Lewis wanted to invest in carting tracks, or something that would be connected to racing and would actually, you know, help the population groups he purports to want to help, I'd be all for it. Even if he wanted to talk about it on race weekends."

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Hamilton will not face FIA investigation

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page