Lewis Hamilton and F1 drivers take a knee before Styrian Grand Prix as four drivers remain standing

Formula One's controversial divide over their anti-racism message hampered as not all 20 drivers made it to the front of the grid as others took a knee

Formula One drivers including Lewis Hamilton once again took a knee before the start of the Styrian Grand Prix, though a handful chose to remain standing as they lined up at the front of the grid.

Six drivers elected to remain standing before last weekend’s season-opening Austrian Grand Prix, with the other 14 drivers all taking a knee to show their support in the fight against racism.

Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen were among those who chose not to take a knee last weekend, with Alfa Romeo pair Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz and Alpha Tauri’s Daniil Kvyat the others who remained on their feet.

Verstappen, Leclerc, Raikkonen and Kvyat again chose to remain on their feet before the Styrian Grand Prix, while Hamilton took a knee alongside 11 other drivers on the grid.

However, the stance was somewhat hampered by the fact that not all drivers made it to the grid in time for the anti-racism message.

All 20 drivers once again wore T-shirts that had the message ‘END RACISM’ printed on the front, though as he did last weekend Hamilton reversed his shirt so that the message was on the back and instead had ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the front of his.

The stance came before the Austrian national anthem, which saw all drivers return to their feet to honour it before returning to their cars ahead of the race.

Hamilton last week refused to criticise the drivers who did not take a knee, explaining that he wants people to join in with the anti-racism gesture if they feel comfortable with the meaning behind it.

F1 drivers take a knee as Max Verstappen, Daniil Kvyat, Kimi Raikkonen and Charles Leclerc stay standing (AFP via Getty)

“I don’t want it to be a case of people feeling forced,” Hamilton said. “I want people to be excited to be a part of the change.

“I want people to think that while they are fortunate not to have experienced racism, they can try to understand what it feels like and that they don’t want people to feel that way and want to be part of change so in the future our kids can lead a better quality of life.”