Lewis Hamilton avoids FIA punishment over t-shirt worn at Tuscan Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton has avoided any action by Formula One’s governing body for the T-shirt he wore at Sunday’s Tuscan Grand Prix.
Ahead of Sunday’s race, Hamilton took a knee wearing a black T-Shirt with the message ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor’.
Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was shot dead by police in her Louisville home six months ago.
Hamilton then wore the T-shirt for his post-race interview, broadcast to millions around the world, before collecting the winner’s trophy and standing on the podium in the same clothing.
The FIA is a non-political organisation and looked into whether Hamilton had broken any rules, but the Briton will not be punished.
However, it is understood the FIA has launched a review of its current guidelines and Hamilton could be told not to wear the T-shirt at future races.
The news came as Hamilton declared on Instagram he will continue to use his standing as a six-time world champion to promote his views.
“I want you to know that I won’t stop,” he wrote on Tuesday. “I won’t let up. I won’t give up on 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.
“We can help make this a better place for our kids and the future generations.”
Damon Hill, Britain’s 1996 world champion, accused the sport of having previously ignored the issue of race.
Such a mixed reaction to @LewisHamilton 's t-shirt podium message. But F1 has always had its head in the sand over any issue that might make people think about anything other than F1. It has to make space for these messages if it is to be embraced by the wider world. #f1https://t.co/Bxih3pBz9x
— Damon Hill (@HillF1) September 15, 2020
He wrote on Twitter: “Such mixed message to Lewis Hamilton’s t-shirt podium message.
“But F1 has always had its head in the sand over any issue that might make people think about anything other than F1. It has to make space for these messages if it is to be embraced by the wider world.”
Hamilton moved to within one of Michael Schumacher’s victory record following the 90th career triumph of his career in Mugello last weekend.
He will be given his first shot at matching the German’s all-time tally at the Sochi Autodrom in Russia a week on Sunday.
