

The global reach of a sport like Formula 1 has afforded the drivers a massive platform. That being said, in today’s day and age, it isn’t employed by them to boost their own stock. Rather, the drivers of today are very keen on speaking up about things that matter to them, topics that are close to their hearts, and issues they want to raise awareness about. The same kind of reach, or greater even, is afforded by soccer stars. Ex-Barcelona and England star, Gary Lineker and 7x Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton tried to preach free speech. But fans were quick to point out the hypocrisy.
Fresh from the Mercedes team launch, Hamilton gave an interview. The Guardian quoted him as saying, “It doesn’t surprise me, but nothing will stop me from speaking on the things that I feel that I’m passionate about and issues that there are. I feel the sport does have a responsibility, always, to speak out on things.” Even Lineker reposted the tweet from his Twitter handle and captioned it, “Well played @LewisHamilton No point having a huge platform if you don’t use it for good. Free speech and all …”

via Getty
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – NOVEMBER 15: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP wears a Black Lives Matter shirt on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey at Intercity Istanbul Park on November 15, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
But the fans on Twitter were having none of that. As soon as both tweets went viral, fans swarmed the social media platform to point out the hypocrisy in Lineker’s statements.
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Fans react as Gary Lineker shows double standards while supporting Lewis Hamilton
The internet has a very sharp memory. That being said, when Gary Lineker tried supporting the 7x champion, the fans dug into his past to highlight the double standards allegedly shown by both Lineker and Hamilton. One fan even commented, “Drive the f**king car Sam smith, or quit for politics.”
Let’s look at just a few fan reactions to Lineker’s tweet.
Shut up Gary, leave politics out of sport, it’s ruining the integrity of many sports now. Trouble is with you lot you exploit the platform and try and enforce your opinions as the truth, which in many cases is far from it!
— Sam Marson (@sambocsf) February 15, 2023
Drive the f**king car Sam smith or quit for politics
— David O Shea (@shaky321) February 15, 2023
As it turns out, Lineker was busted as a part of a nationwide crackdown on tax evasion. Fans were quick to point that out.
What's his POV on tax avoidance?
— David J. Ickringill (@David_Ick) February 16, 2023
Be even better if he wasn't a tax exile. https://t.co/9RMWlHbkSn
— Irons (@Ironsandlions) February 15, 2023
what does he think of tax evasion and the morality of that?
— bluearmy18 (@bluearmy181) February 15, 2023
You should be neutral Gary seeing as your platform comes from a Tax that all and sundry have to pay regardless of need or want.
— Hodler (@_TheHodler) February 16, 2023
Safe to say, fans weren’t really pleased with Lineker who was actually an alumnus of Lionel Messi‘s old team.
The Guardian, Big ears, and Hamipops in one tweet.
Crrriiiinggggee. https://t.co/umP3EUR00s— .Swiss Toni.,🇩🇪🇳🇱🇨🇭🇬🇧 (@Peter18493450) February 16, 2023
Or as it’s better known in this case, “you can have free speech as long as you don’t cost us any money whilst you use it”
— Sean (@Sproutlore99) February 15, 2023
Politics should be left out of sport, sports there for us to enjoy and escape from such things, there’s plenty of places to watch and read about politics if we so choose to but leave it out of our sports
— .ASA. WILSON (@itsasawilson) February 15, 2023
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WATCH THIS STORY: Lewis Hamilton Finds Himself in an Unusual Situation With His Teammate for the First Time Since 2007
Be a politician then. No place in sport.
— simon ingleson (@s_ingleson) February 15, 2023
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What did you make out of this whole fiasco? Was Hamilton correct in demanding more free speech for the drivers? And is Gary Lineker out of line given his past record?
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