The FIA is looking into whether Lewis Hamilton broke the rules by wearing a t-shirt at the Formula 1 Tuscany Grand Prix on which a message was written highlighting police brutality, again in the USA.
Lewis Hamilton, who took pole position and victory at Mugello last weekend in the Tuscany Grand Prix, wore a T-shirt before and after the race, with a message on the front that read: ” Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.”
On the back of the T-shirt was a picture of his face and the inscription: “Say her name.”
Breonna Taylor was a black American woman, who earlier this year was shot at her home by police, who had come to conduct a search in the course of a drug investigation, but in which she was not involved.
Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at the police, thinking they were trespassing, and the police returned fire. Breonna Taylor was then hit by eight bullets and died as a result of her injuries.
The officers, armed with a search warrant, were acting on an incorrect APB for a wanted suspect who was no longer living in the building and was already in custody.
Although the FIA and F1 have been supporting the fight against racism and discrimination since the start of the 2020 season, notably by allowing drivers and team members to wear an “End Racism” T-shirt before each national anthem on race weekends, the fact that Lewis Hamilton decided to put a message that could be considered political on his T-shirt was disturbing to many.
FIA’s statutes stipulate that the governing body must be completely neutral in everything it does. In many ways, the FIA’s position is totally at odds with Hamilton’s current Zeitgeist doctrine of; inaction and staying silent is as bad as the proliferation of racist behaviour.
“FIA will refrain from discriminating and taking action on the grounds of race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion, philosophical or political opinion, family status or disability in the course of its activities.”
Further, here is also a reference in the International Sporting Code which states that teams may not use a “political” message on their cars. In a typically FIA hazy rulemaking manner, nothing is mentioned about the drivers of the teams.
“Competitors taking part in International competitions are not allowed to place on their cars any advertising of a political or religious nature or prejudicial to the interests of the FIA.” confirms the FIA ruling.
Perhaps embarrassed a little, the German team seems to have lost control over its star driver in Hamilton, who now uses the manufacturer’s success in big-budget dominance to put forth his own politics to the world.
The Mercedes team, for its part, said on its social networks that the message posted last weekend by Lewis Hamilton in Tuscany was not political, but rather related to the issue of human rights.
“We don’t introduce politics in F1, these are human rights issues that we try to highlight and raise awareness. There is a big difference…” says Mercedes in a rather clumsy fashion.
This issue is likely to be discussed during the drivers’ briefing with the FIA during the next race weekend at the Russian Grand Prix at the end of September.
The question now is whether a Formula 1 driver should only do what he is paid to do [drive and represent his team] or whether by virtue of his status a driver can or should carry a message that can be considered political.
Certainly, the FIA are perhaps growing tired of the Hamilton politics and agenda, hence this investigation. The organisation, no matter how much they value Hamilton as a poster boy for Formula 1, cannot allow any drivers to highjack the sport for their own political agenda.
My interest in F1 had been waning for a while. On Sunday after seeing Hamilton wearing that T-shirt my interest ended. I’m no longer a fan of F1. I’m still a fan of historical F1, but not the current version. Get woke – go broke. The FIA and Liberty Media better understand what that means.
Formula 1 is owned by Americans, who believe they are the greatest country on earth, so they do not like it when they are shown to have just as bad human rights issues as anywhere else, and they are not this great land of opportunity for all that they pretend to be. That slogan is a human rights issue and NOT political, and everyone whether a sports person or a pop star or a street cleaner has the right to highlight these issues. If you are offended then tough, it obviously hit a nerve.
I agree with Cav. The message on the t-shirt is not a slogan nor a human rights issue, it is a view of a privileged individual unrelated to his highly visible employment. The hypothetical street-cleaner may well have a right to highlight any issues he or she wants, but a t-shirt on top of a high-viz jacket would soon result in dismissal. F1 is a sporting event and I no more want to have political posturing, whatever its merits, pushed down my throat any more than when I am watching Homes Under the Hammer (the adverts are bad enough portraying unrealistic and for all I know biologically impossible rainbow families).
It’s high time the F! authorities reined in Hamilton’s extreme posturing. He’s had his five minutes, just get on with what you’re paid to do.
I find it paradoxical that it’s very easy to forget the other side of Hamilton’s parentage (his mother is white, not that you would notice), and the implications that follow.
BLM is ostensibly about racism but in reality it’s a Marxist organisation. It’s so disturbing to have this in your face that I now completely refuse to watch Formula 1 and will probably never return to it. Sport is supposed to be above politics and that includes virtue signalling. We get enough of that the rest of the time. There’s far more important problems in the world today with our globalist manufactured crises – affecting all populations – than listening to Hamilton whining about his chosen ethnic group.
I agree with Hamilton. As a Blackman if he was living here in the states he could get killed as easily as how a cop feels in that moment, and if that cop hates blacks he wouldn’t think twice about shooting and killing a POC.
That is utter BS.
does Hamilton know that when the police entered her apartment under Warrant one of The policeman was shot? Does he know that she had been dating one of the drug dealers shortly before and the concern was she had been receiving parcels as a cover for them? His message is clearly political. Would he wear a T-shirt about a white person or a Mexican?
Disappointed but not surprised at the ingrained racism of yours and other comments here. If I have to explain the many reasons why this is wrong and and an outrage then it is if itself a pointless exercise. Pail, you make many unsubstantiated claims in your post. Even if these allegations are true, the police do not have the right to murder you in your own home. That’s the facts. I applaud Lewis and Mercedes in their stance. Truth hurts huh Paul? You don’t need to try and justify your opinion, it’s crystal clear where you stand. I’m not saying this some bleeding heart liberal ( which I am) but as an ex police officer. There is ingrained racism and prejudice in the police departments not just in America and if a global star ( and arguably one of the greatest drivers of all time) is using that to promote the message then I’m all for it. Forza Lewis & Mercedes ! It’s a shame some of you fellow drivers don’t fully embrace your efforts to engineer real change that benefits everybody, unless you’re a racist prick of course. Take a sip of coffee Paul, your up!
what a bunch of racists – Hamilton is absolutely correct to highlight this killing / murder
The FIA should should give Lewis Hamilton a three-race ban for his inappropriate behaviour – and do the same to anyone else who (ab)uses the facilities of Formula One races to express their personal opinions by emblazoning them on their attire.
This ban should not include the right to continue participating in races pending an appeal.
It would, coincidentally, have the fortunate consequence of rendering the remainder of this year’s Drivers World Championship more interesting.
Especially if Hamilton’s humanitarian concerns and posturing should lead him justifiably to boycott the two races currently scheduled at Bahrain. He would not, after all, want to be branded a hypocrite.
I wonder what Max Mosley would do with him if he was still presiding over the FIA: give him a robust flogging (Bahrraini-style, not Nazi-style, of course) with German lessons in arithmetic, in one of his private torture chambers?
How the hell is “Arrest those who killed the innocent person” a political message??
Can someone tell me the difference between Ham wearing this shirt (and let’s be honest, going to be allowed to continue) and the protests Greenpeace or Father’s for Justice have done. None of them were permitted, each highlight a point of view that some people agree with, so each are correct in the owner’s minds. 2 of them were suppressed – 1 wasn’t. Surely that isn’t equality? Do Father’s for Justice have to get some black dads to make their opinion listened to?!
I really don’t care about the shirts the drivers wear. It doesn’t do anything with my interest in F1.
Hamilton will always be a bit “cringy” whether he adresses racism or thanks his team for another win.
I just hope mercedes fucks up a few times so we get more of a championship battle.
Hamilton has become an embarrassment to both F1 and the UK. If he can’t shut up and restrict himself to driving, I believe he should be banned from the sport.
It’s sad to see, yet unsurprising really given where we are posting, the number of racists that come crawling out, slamming Lewis for shining a light up against them
I’d like to say you should all be ashamed of yourselves, but sadly those among you never will, so until then, you can all go fuck yourselves
That’s the truth right there! Bravo G
Quite eh?!
Admittedly this is only a low traffic website, but it’s telling from the numbers of comments, what the demographic mostly consists of… And I include the “Judge” in that
Max 3 or 4 comments, with most articles commentless, then BOOM, 16 comments here.
Says it all really
I always appreciate the time you take to bother to comment G, but this is not unlike any other comments section in many F1 forum / groups or motorsport articles whenever this subject comes up.
This website started in 2012 – then there were very few column inches written about Lewis, but rather back then it was Vettel. And back then, he was the target for critical article writing because invariably it is the current Champions or challengers who feel they are able to convey the most egotistical topics in the press. And Vettel was guilty as hell for the usual traits we see from Lewis, entitlement, brattish behaviour amongst other unpleasant ego centric characteristics. Alonso too around that time was subject to TJ13s harsh assessment and opinion.
You call this a low volume website? Yes it is compared to the bigger mainstream sites, but equally it attracts over a million unique visitors each year, or about 2800 a day. That kind of circulation is probably something some traditional paper print publications can only dream of these days.
The reasons for the lack of comments are 2 fold. Firstly, it’s not just myself writing, but a team. The team tend to publish articles that are not as divisive as traditional TJ13 publishing, but more akin to mainstream quote based news. It is when a strong opinion is written, much like TJ13 of old, we see the comments rise which shows how infrequently I write. We know too that the ads used to pay the team inhibit commenters.
Lastly, call me a racist again and your IP will be banned G.
Hamilton may have a noble and worthy cause here, one I agree 100% with, but he comes across has brand Hamilton in all of his activities, this particular one is just the latest in what looks to many as a reinforcement of his status in public opinion, which I might add is nothing compared to other genuine activists.
Fair enough… You say you’re not a racist and that you support his endeavours… I will take your word for it, however know that I formed that opinion based on the empirical evidence I saw. The constant snipping and criticism of Lewis.
Also, you say this was historically shared similarly with Alonso, Vettell etc, but I disagree. Yes there may have been some, but not to the same degree.
Anyway, we’ll leave that bit there.
I may suggest however, that you may wish to display a similar level of authority against those other commentators who DO espouse thoughts, comments or suggestions that you say you disagree with… Call out the racists on your platform and ban them
Peace
G
When other commentors either falsely point fingers, or they regularly get out of line, bans will happen.
This platform is free for all to voice their opinion, it is not always up to me to judge these things.
To be honest it is a welcome relief comments have dropped off a cliff here as just a few years ago moderating the comments was a job in itself.
As for my own opinion, I don’t particularly support Lewis’ endeavours as you think I do, but I do support equal rights and I dislike racism . But in my opinion I feel there are other advocates far better at doing it than Hamilton
Also, update on no further action by the fia on this subject, is painfully conspicuous in its a sense!
…. absence
And that’s the crux of the matter. Anyone who disagrees with the way Hamilton is using his position to publicise a political view is called a racist – and drivers are racist pricks – with a few gratuitous insults thrown in.
It’s a common tactic to close a discussion, but it;’s not an argument, or a discussion, or even a valid point of view.
I don’t see why as one of the greatest drivers of all time Lewis shouldn’t use his best endeavours to promote his views on any matters that concern him. One can applaud or disagree.
However……. doing it in company time, on company business is another matter.
I’m sure in his contract with Mercedes it very clearly stipulates what his apparel should be, especially what should be worn on the podium and in media interviews. Whether Lewis cleared this with Toto is a moot point – either way he placed his employer in an invidious position.
Lewis I gather you have massive following on social media – please use it to promote your views. If that isn’t enough buy advertising to promote your views – don’t use (abuse) the free airtime given to you as a reward for your outstanding efforts on the track it demeans the sport of Formula 1.