Ricciardo explains why some drivers didn't take the knee

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed the reasoning behind some drivers opting not to take the knee in support of the Black Live Matter movement at the Austrian Grand Prix.

At the Red Bull Ring, every driver wore t-shirts in support of the movement which read either ‘Black Lives Matter’ or ‘End Racism’, but some - Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, Daniil Kvyat, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi - decided against getting down on one knee.

Lewis Hamilton supported the choice of his colleagues, saying nobody should be forced into taking the knee.

Ricciardo, meanwhile, believes the choice by the six comes from particular connotations that taking the knee has in their respective countries.

"The chat (on Friday) with the drivers was essentially saying all of us are 100% on board with supporting it and ending racism. None of us are anti this, so we all support this," the Australian told Motorsport.com

"I just think there was a little bit of difficulty with some drivers and their nationality, and what something like taking a knee would represent.

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"Obviously the reasons why we would do it is purely to support Black Lives Matter. It is for nothing political or anything else.

"But there is a little bit of a fine line with some drivers and their nationalities and how it is perceived.

"We heard all of them, all their opinions, and we are not going to try to put anyone in jeopardy. We all understood that we will do what we feel comfortable with.

"But no one is going to be judged or criticised if they don't stand there in a certain way or take a knee," he added.

Following the race, Hamilton thanked the drivers who did get down on one knee, and insisted that he did not demand the gesture from anyone.

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