Lewis Hamilton, very involved in the fight against discrimination, wore Friday, November 19, during the tests of the Grand Prix of Qatar, a helmet with the colors of the rainbow flag, symbol of the LGBT community, and also adorned with ‘other bands of black, brown, blue, pink and white and the words “We stand together” (“We are united”).
For the first Formula 1 race in Qatar, the seven-time world champion wanted to make an impression. “I think we are all aware that there are problems in certain countries where we go and especially in this part of the world“Said the seven-time world champion on Thursday.
The first black driver in F1, who made the fight against discrimination his fight off the track, felt that Formula 1, “coming here, has a duty to educate people about these issues“human rights. For the Briton, pilots must “making sport more responsible and making sure that sport really does something when it comes to these countries, and that’s why I tried to raise my voice“.
“One person can’t change a lot, but together, collectively, we can make a bigger impact.”
Lewis hamiltonin press conference
“I know that these countries are trying to make progress, and that we cannot transform everything overnight“, he continued, noting that he was not “not (originally) from these regions“and that the situation was”incredibly complex, especially with religion “.
With him at a press conference, McLaren driver Lando Norris also felt that “as a community, as Formula 1“, the sport could have an impact, as F1 goes to Saudi Arabia in early December for the first time.
Hamilton’s helmet is reminiscent of the t-shirt and mask worn by another former world champion, Sebastian Vettel, this summer at the Hungarian Grand Prix, in the midst of a debate on a law accused by many European leaders of including discrimination against towards LGBT + people.