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.