Motorsport: Daniel Ricciardo defends drivers who didn’t take a Black Lives Matter stand

Daniel Ricciardo has expressed support for the six drivers who opted not to take a knee before the Austrian Grand Prix

Australian Daniel Ricciardo believes drivers shouldn’t be criticised for not kneeling

Australian Daniel Ricciardo has expressed support for the six drivers who opted not to take a knee before the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Renault driver explained that the politicisation of the Black Lives Matter slogan in some countries made the choice by some drivers more sensitive.

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton chose to wear “Black Lives Matter” on his T-shirt, while the other 19 drivers’ shirts bore the message “End Racism”. During the pre-race ceremony, 14 of them knelt, while six remained standing.

“There was a little bit of difficulty with some drivers and their nationality and what something like taking a knee would represent,” Ricciardo said.

“Obviously the reason why we would do it is purely to support Black Lives Matter. It is for nothing political. 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 (don’t) take a knee.”

Similar sentiments had been aired on Sunday by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who was one of the six not to kneel, along with Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen, Antonio Giovinazzi, Daniil Kvyat and Kimi Raikkonen.

“I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries,” Leclerc, from Monaco, tweeted.

Hamilton, who finished fourth, said his Black Lives Matter T-shirt was to support equality rather than any political movement. “Some people are making it more political,” he said.

THE TIMES