Formula 1 drivers share the fighter pilot mentality. Naturally, it becomes very important for them to get into the groove before a race begins. Lap after lap, the only key to going fast is consistency. Hence, during the build-up to a race, F1 drivers tend to zone out, away from the media and the prying eyes of the fans. But with the sport moving towards showmanship as evidenced at Miami, the sanctity of a driver’s time has been contaminated so to speak. While other drivers have been calling F1 out for this, Lewis Hamilton doesn’t seem to mind.

The Miami GP caught a lot of flak. Mainly, it was down to the actual race being a boring affair. But there were many other aspects that caught the ire of the fans and the drivers alike. With Formula 1 now moving hard into the US markets for obvious reasons, the loyal fanbase and well-wishers of this sport have thought it well to issue a warning to the sport and the governing body, the FIA.

F1 issued with severe warning over Miami GP antics

One of the most talked about aspects of the race on Sunday was not the race, but the driver intros instead. According to The Race, the whole pre-race event was to the disdain of the drivers and the fans while George Russell and Valtteri Bottas even went as far as calling it a distracting mess.

And according to the hosts of the VF1 Show, Vincenzo Landino and VF Castro, F1 needs a rethink soon. Castro was quoted as saying on the show, “Everyone except, maybe Lewis [Hamilton] said that they hated the driver intros [at Miami]. It took time away from their pre-race rituals and meetings.”

“So, yeah, more than anything that’s what F1 and the FIA need to deal with. I think the fans, influencers etc., that’s kind of secondary to the driving.”

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But while every other driver was seething at the sight of this grandiose entrance, Hamilton was simply soaked in the atmosphere.

Lewis Hamilton explains his contradictory stand

The stand of the other drivers in this LL Cool J and Will.I.Am led driver entrance has been made. However, there was one outlier. In open defiance to what was said by the others, Lewis Hamilton defended the contentious moment in the build-up to the main race.

He was quoted as saying by Sky Sports, “I think it is cool that the sport is continuously growing and evolving and they are not just doing the same things they have done in the past. They are trying new things, they are trying to improve the show and I am in full support of it. I grew up listening to LL Cool J and then he is there, that was cool.”

“You have got Will.i.am, who is an incredible artist. You have got Serena and Venus (Williams) standing there. It was cool.”

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Which side of the fence are you on in this debate?