Formula One puts an end to taking the knee at races
The Black Lives Matter protest was adopted after Lewis Hamilton pushed for F1 to take action, but not all drivers supported it.
Formula One will stop drivers taking the knee before races this season and instead focus on “action”.
The opportunity for drivers to take the knee was introduced in 2020 after Lewis Hamilton pushed for F1 to show its support for the anti-racism movement.
The sport decided to set aside time before the race for drivers to show their support, or make any gesture they wanted, as part of its “We Race As One” initiative.
The initiative was broadened for the 2021 season to allow drivers to express support on other subjects. Sebastian Vettel wore rainbow T-shirts and race boots in countries in which homosexuality is illegal.
While most drivers joined Hamilton in taking the knee, it was not universally adopted, and several remained standing during the allotted time.
Stefano Domenicali, chief executive of F1, has now said that the time set aside before a race has been removed, although the We Race As One video, in which all 20 drivers talk about inclusivity, will still be shown.
The Italian said it was time to move away from “gestures” and towards “action”. It is understood that the teams supported the change of direction.
“I think that what we said [is] we do not have to do politics,” Domenicali said in an interview with Sky Sports News. “Now it’s the matter [of moving] from gesture to action [and] now the action is the focus on the diversity of our community and this is the first step. The gesture has been important for the ones that believed it was an important gesture, because we need to respect everyone as always. But now is the time to move on and take some other action.”
Hamilton, who remains F1’s only black driver, has been a leading voice in pushing for greater equality in the sport. His Mercedes team have painted their car black for the past two seasons, though it is understood they will return to silver livery this year.
The winner of seven world championships ended his silence last week, and with it speculation that he would retire after losing out on the title last season in controversial circumstances. He has set up a commission to look at the reasons for the lack of diversity and what action can be taken to improve it.
F1 has also decided to set up its own program, introducing university scholarships, work placements, internships and apprenticeships for aspiring workers from under-represented backgrounds.
Yesterday F1 announced that it would fund engineering scholarships for under-represented groups until 2025.
Ten scholarships will be offered to students across six universities, with a placement at every F1 team available during their studies. The cost covers full tuition as well as living expenses.
The Times
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