This weekend’s Portuguese Grand Prix could be overshadowed by another anti-racism streak after 12 drivers, led by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, pledged to support the current social media blackout in the sport during the F1 refused even this.
Hamilton has already said he was “not sure why”. F1 isn’t part of the four-day initiative originally sponsored by English football associations to highlight social media abuse against players, but has since grown into something much bigger.
The Duke of Cambridge, the president of the football association, pledged his support for the boycott on Friday, which began at 3 p.m. and will last through Tuesday.
Countless organizations in the UK and abroad have joined, although the BBC was a notable exception. In a statement on its website, the company said its royal charter and editorial guidelines prevented it from doing so. “Although we have firm guidelines for combating online abuse, the company cannot participate in a lobbying campaign, no matter how valuable the cause is,” it said. “This does not mean that the BBC is neutral on issues like racism or hate crimes. They are hideous.”
Formula 1 also declined to support the campaign, although they too acknowledged the boycott in a brief statement. “F1 is fully committed to combating all forms of discrimination, whether online or otherwise,” it said. “We support the actions of the Premier League and other sports associations and athletes by emphasizing that more needs to be done to address the online abuse they are receiving directly. We continue to work with all platforms and our own audiences to promote respect and positive values and to stop racism. “
The stark contrast between the attitude of F1 and that of the 12 drivers who signed up – Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, George Russell, Nicholas Latifi, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly, Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin – recalls last year’s reaction to the global Black Lives Matter movement, when some riders kneeled on the grid and some didn’t before each race. The sport has been criticized for lack of a common reaction, although team bosses like Mercedes’ Toto Wolff defended the sport on Friday, among other things.
“I think Formula 1 and Mercedes have shown commitment to the fight against racism throughout the year, not only with the visual initiative, but we have started several campaigns to increase diversity,” said the Austrian. “We have invested considerable resources in setting up these programs and would leave it to the drivers to decide whether to participate in a boycott in the UK.
“I think the fight against racism with a completely different instrument is necessary. We’re a global sport in Formula 1 and it’s up to everyone to decide whether to join this British initiative. “McLaren’s Andreas Seidl added,” I wouldn’t call it incoherent. I think with what we also saw with #WeRaceAsOne last year, Formula 1 showed that we are pretty much in agreement on how we see a lot of things.
“Again, I don’t like the fact that, last year and this year too, I focus so often on how each individual, organization, team or driver expresses themselves in relation to these matters.”
It is unlikely that Hamilton, who criticized F1’s response to the BLM protests last year, would be impressed by the sport’s stance on this recent boycott. The seven-time world champion posted a statement on Twitter on Friday morning. “While boycott may not solve this problem overnight, we need to call for changes when necessary, even when it seems like an almost impossible task. Sport has the power to unite us. Let’s not accept abuse as part of sport, but as the one that will make a difference for future generations. “
A number of football managers spoke out in favor of the initiative. Jurgen Klopp from Liverpool described it as “very important” while Steve Bruce from Newcastle argued that the world is a better place without it [social media]“But added that it needs better monitoring when it’s out there.
“I don’t think we should all just have access [it on] a tablet or a phone. These disgusting messages out there are not right in my opinion, so I am all for it. Let’s hope they can make a difference and monitor it a little better. “
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