Lewis Hamilton speaks of pride over Vettel LGBTQ+ protest

Vettel, Aston Martin, Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Lewis Hamilton

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Hamilton speaks of pride over Vettel LGBTQ+ protest

Vettel was reprimanded for keeping his WeRaceAsOne shirt on for the national anthem in Hungary

Ewan Gale

Friday 6 August 2021 09:29

Lewis Hamilton has spoken of his pride after Sebastian Vettel's weekend of campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The eastern European country recently introduced controversial anti-LGBTQ+ laws, prompting both Hamilton and Vettel into speaking out.

Vettel took his protests one step further by wearing rainbow-adorned trainers, a face mask and a t-shirt to show his support for the LGBTQ+ community.

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"It’s wonderful that Seb has taken a stance, to really speak out for those in the LGBTQ+ community," said Hamilton.

"I spoke at the beginning of the weekend and I think it was important for him to do so, so I don’t think he… he probably won’t be in too much trouble but we have to take a stance.

"We are pushing diversity and inclusivity and that community 100 per cent is included in that. I’m proud of him for it."

Vettel reprimand explained by FIA

Vettel was reprimanded along with three other drivers for keeping his LGBTQ+ rights shirt on for the Hungarian national anthem.

Explaining the punishment, FIA race director Michael Masi stated: "Following discussions internally with the FIA and F1, we clarified that we wanted to keep giving the drivers the ability to have the moment to show their support for WeRaceAsOne however they chose to.

"But then the national anthem for a particular country should be respected, with all drivers wearing their race suits.

"So it was clarified and made very clear that once that moment was displayed and drivers showed their recognition, they would have to remove their shirt, or anything else they wore, and go to the national anthem in their race team uniform."