Formula One is failing on anti-racism and it needs to get its house in order

It shouldn’t be this hard to prove you are against racist abuse, yet three races into the season, F1 still can’t even get its drivers to arrive on time, let alone send a message of unity, writes Jack de Menezes

Lewis Hamilton has come under fire from senior figures in the sport (EPA)

Lewis Hamilton woke up on Monday morning an eight-time Hungarian Grand Prix winner, the current Formula One championship leader and a safe bet to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles later this year. He also woke up with the same feeling of loneliness and disappointment that he has experienced too often these last few weeks.

Hamilton was joined once again by a number of fellow drivers to take a knee before the Hungarian Grand Prix. Like the last two races, a handful of others chose to remain standing, and others missed the pre-race gesture because they were late. One driver even managed to forget the “End Racism” shirt that all drivers have agreed to wear in unison.

If Formula One really wants to show they care about sending a genuine anti-racism message, it needs to get their house in order. It should not be this hard to prove you are against racist abuse, yet three races into the season, F1 still can’t even get its drivers to arrive on time, let alone send a message of unity.

Hamilton was also the subject of criticism from former world champion Mario Andretti, while three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart said that he believes the sport does not have a problem with racism. As the only black world champion in history and Formula One’s only current black driver, this must have felt like Groundhog Day.

Last month it was former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone who spoke so poorly on the matter that Hamilton felt compelled to condemn the 89-year-old’s views, and he chose to do the same on Monday, labelling Andretti’s comments “disappointing”, and going to say that “the older generation who still have a voice today cannot get out of their own way and acknowledge there is a problem”.

Rather than criticise those who are trying to implement change for good reasons, perhaps those who have a problem with what Hamilton is doing should understand why a black person feels the need to speak out repeatedly. Is it because the sport is simply not reacting fast enough or doing what it needs to to convey the required message that it will do everything within its power to eradicate racial equality?

Because right now, the sport is failing to change its image – and it makes for incredibly disappointing viewing.

Yours,

Jack de Menezes
Sports news correspondent