Formula 1 2023: Australian GP MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA – APRIL
02: Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, 2nd position, on the podium during the
Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday April 02, 2023 in
Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images Images
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via Imago
Formula 1 2023: Australian GP MELBOURNE GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT, AUSTRALIA – APRIL
02: Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG, 2nd position, on the podium during the
Australian GP at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday April 02, 2023 in
Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images Images
PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY GP2303_165205MS3_8565
The man who took a knee and brought the Black Lives Matter movement to the F1 circus, Lewis Hamilton, has always been a vocal proponent of Human Rights. Perhaps his journey and being in a place where nobody looks like him and having been treated differently all his life plays an important role in why the man feels so passionate about it. And this soft corner has now expanded to a degree where he is willing to risk it all to bring about a change.
Back when winning was still his thing, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton won the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix. While there was still nothing out of the ordinary about the win part, as the man already had more wins than any other driver in the history of the sport, what stood out was his headgear. The official YouTube channel of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team brought their champion to take a trip down memory lane.
Formula One F1 – Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan – October 7, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton before practice REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
One such story was from his iconic stance in Qatar. Looking at the picture, Lewis said, “This one’s in Qatar where I wore a rainbow helmet. For me, it’s mind-blowing that we live in a time still where there are so many countries around the world but you know particularly a lot of Human Rights issues within the Middle East, women’s rights LGBT rights and there are laws that restrict people from being their true selves and I’m just I’ve always been a risk taker and like I’m gonna do this whether or not they’re gonna throw me in jail I don’t care what they’re going to do I’m gonna stand for something that I believe in even if it kills me.”
Throw me in jail has been the stance of the Silver Arrows champion for a long time. However, there was something in particular that made the Qatar 2021 stand an even more special one.
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Lewis Hamilton’s victory meant a lot more
While the FIA has tried to clamp down on drivers taking a stand using the official platform to make their stance heard, Lewis Hamilton still donned his rainbow helmet when he raced around the circuit. And while he may not have been able to win to spread the message, there once was a time 2 years ago when the man’s stance got highlighted further when he won the race.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia – April 2, 2023 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates his second placed finish REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Lewis said, “I know that sounds crazy but that’s like I’ve got to do this I need to show people that how important it is and spark those conversations out there put those that are in power on edge and feel that they need to have conversations about making change because it brings negativity to their country Etc so did it. And I won the race. My drive was like I’ve got to get to the top of the podium because then that’ll make the biggest bang the biggest awareness for it and um I did so I was really proud of it. I still use it today the team used it on the on the star for a race.”
