Hamilton showing the way by breaking "invisible rules"
Hamilton showing the way by breaking "invisible rules"
Lewis Hamilton believes he has shown the way to the younger generation of F1 drivers by breaking what he considers to be a number of "invisible rules".
Over the past 18 months, Hamilton has been a leading voice for the Black Lives Matter campaign and spearheaded a drive to increase the number of Black people working in F1 through his own Commission.
The seven-time F1 champion has been joined this season by Sebastian Vettel in speaking on important environmental or societal issues and can sense other younger drivers are being inspired.
"From my experience as a driver, there's definitely the experience of 'My team won't want me to say that' or 'I can't be outspoken because the team won't like that' or 'The sponsors won't like that'," said Hamilton, speaking on Sky Sports F1.
"I hope that breaking some of these invisible rules that are there has shown the others that they can do those things. I don't mind being the one to break them.
"It's great to see Seb really coming out on his own. As two of the older drivers, I hope that does encourage some of the younger drivers.
"I'm speaking with Mick [Schumacher], who is such a lovely lad and he's saying things like 'I don't know everything. Is there any way you can educate me?' And same with Lando [Norris].
"So I'm really proud of this next generation coming along, but we can still encourage them to be more invested and more understanding.
"When you're young, all you're thinking about is winning. You don't have time for a lot of these other things. Well, you think you don't, but you actually do. And that's what we've got to get across."
While F1 still holds its pre-race 'WeRaceAsOne' initiative, Hamilton feels its impact of last year has diminished, which resulted in him drawing attention in other ways, such as sponsoring a table for Black designers at the Met Gala.
Hamilton has also teamed up with George Mpanga, otherwise known as 'George the Poet', an award-winning spoken-word artist, and displayed messages on some of his t-shirts on the grid.
"It was just before the beginning of the season and I was thinking, 'We've gone through a period, Black Lives Matter, taking a knee, what's the next step and how do we continue to spark conversation?'" said Hamilton.
"And so I came up with this idea - how about working with some up-and-coming Black designers to create the shirts, and then work with a young Black British poet and come up with something meaningful, and by the end of the year we'll have a real story to tell.
"And that's what it's about, it's about a story and sparking that conversation.
"Because we go from one race to another, and people are talking less perhaps about Black Lives Matter and inclusivity. But we've got to keep that at the tip of people's tongues because that's still a conversation that needs to be had.
"Things haven't been fixed; we've got to fix it. It's all well and good the sport talking about end racism, about diversity and inclusion, sustainability and all these things.
"But we've got to make sure we're actually following through with these things. That takes lots of conversation. I feel like we've got to take our audience on that too because we can all keep learning."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Horner Red Bull saga set to reignite with FIA 'evidence' hearing
- 31 minutes ago
F1 set for talks over RADICAL change to points rules
- 1 hour ago
F1 News Today: 'Game over' for Perez as Red Bull chief claims rivals 'pressuring' star into contract
- 3 hours ago
Cullen sends out new relationship love as F1 team punished for GP injury – GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Perez makes 'game over' admission after Chinese GP disappointment
- Yesterday 22:57
Red Bull chief claims team 'pressuring' star driver into contract
- Yesterday 21:57
Related news
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
Rosberg reveals Wolff MISTAKE in managing infamous Hamilton dynamic
Hamilton rues Mercedes mistakes over key F1 decision
Wolff left FUMING with Mercedes despite amazing Hamilton lap
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860