Six-time Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton has commended on what he described as the “positive steps” taken in the fight against racism as a result of the global protests of the past two weeks.
Hamilton said he believes the death of African-American, George Floyd in police custody last month had seen “the world open its eyes to the realities of racism” and said that progress has been made in this regard. The Mercedes driver, however, added that it was important to attain equality.
“People have united in the fight for racial equality and against police brutality and white supremacy,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton has been outspoken on the issue since Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis last month after an officer knelt on his neck for nine minutes. Floyd’s last words, “I can’t breathe,” have become a mantra at the demonstrations that have erupted around the world since. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with second-degree murder.
Hamilton, F1’s first black driver, described last week how he had felt “completely overcome with rage” at events in the US following Floyd’s death.
On Monday (June 8) Hamilton saluted demonstrators in Bristol who tore down a statue of the 17th-century slave trader Edward Colston, saying governments around the world should “implement the peaceful removal of these racist symbols”.
Before his return to an F1 cockpit on Wednesday (June 10) for the first time since February, Hamilton added that progress has been made.
“We’ve seen laws being passed. We’ve seen police officers held accountable and charged for their actions,” he noted.
“Brands have started to align themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement, and are educating themselves on how they can do better.
“There’s also been a surge in the sale of anti-racist books, and many are watching films and documentaries to better educate themselves on our experience.
“More and more, people are wanting to learn about black history. This is only the beginning and there is still so much more change to come,” he concluded.
Hamilton was driving at Silverstone on Wednesday in a 2018 Mercedes F1 car, in which he won his fifth world title, to prepare for the new season which starts in Austria on 3-5 July.
The test was for Mercedes to “blow off the cobwebs” after three months of inaction since the coronavirus crisis laid waste the start of the season. The team are wearing protective gear and ware trialling new protocols to ensure the resumption of F1 competition does not risk spreading the coronavirus.
