Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Spa-Francorchamps, 2020

Hamilton will not boycott Belgian Grand Prix over Jacob Blake shooting

2020 Belgian Grand Prix

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Lewis Hamilton says he does not intend to join other sportspeople in boycotting events in protest over the shooting of Jacob Blake in America.

Top-level baseball, basketball and football matches have been cancelled in the USA after teams decided not to play in response to the shooting of Blake, a black man, by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Hamilton, who has been a vocal supporter of anti-racism protests, praised sportspeople for their roles in the boycotts on social media. However speaking in today’s FIA press conference he said he will not stand down from this weekend’s F1 race in Belgium.

“Firstly I think it’s incredible what many out there in the States are doing within their sports,” said Hamilton. “All the way down to the people that are hosting, commentators for example. So many people are standing with the players and really pushing for change. It’s a shame that that’s what needed over there to get a reaction.

“But that is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have an effect. We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States.

“I haven’t spoken to anybody about it but I am really proud of so many out there and I do stand unified with them trying to do what I can over here. I don’t really know how us not doing the race – it will still go on – is a thing.”

Formula 1 has introduced a formal pre-race anti-racism ceremony this year at the urging of Hamilton and other drivers. Hamilton said he will continue to discuss ways to promote the cause with senior figures in the sport.

“I’ll still try and speak to Formula 1 to see what else we can do to continue to raise awareness, continue to help push. Naturally I think as a sport we all need to be aligned, we all need to be supporting one another.”

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Sebastian Vettel said any decision to boycott a race would be taken jointly by the drivers but he doesn’t believe it is necessary at present.

Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Spa-Francorchamps, 2020
F1’s anti-racism ceremony will continue, says Vettel
“I think if so, it’s something that we obviously decide together. Generally we talk about stuff, we talk about things that are going on and things that are important to us. We’ve grown together as a group of drivers. The more experienced drivers, the young drivers, I think we share our opinions.

“I don’t think it makes much sense now to go as far as that because nothing is on the table or there’s no reason to boycott a race. But I’m sure that if we’re unhappy with something we talk about it first and then take actions accordingly.”

However Vettel believes it is important for F1’s pre-race anti-racism observance to continue.

“If you ask how long are we going to continue, there’s no answer on that. The question is it is important to us to keep sending the message and stand for that. And that’s, I think, what we will continue to do.

“The measures that have been taken in the US with some players boycotting or going on strike and not going out for the games and therefore the games having to be postponed, I think maybe they are more US-specific. I don’t know the complete backgrounds but I think from where we are we seem to be quite happy as drivers with our actions and want to keep sending that message.

“Having said that, we know that it doesn’t change things overnight and it’s only a very, very small contribution. But hopefully everybody that’s tuned in and sees it gets the point and gets the message, and takes a little bit of that for the next steps that he’s facing in life.

“Because I think one thing is to take action in public. But more important is what everybody is deciding, or how everybody’s acting and confronting it, once the cameras are off. And that’s true for us being in the spotlight a certain amount during the weekend, but also valid for everyone else.”

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2020 Belgian Grand Prix

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142 comments on “Hamilton will not boycott Belgian Grand Prix over Jacob Blake shooting”

  1. “When the reason for perhaps not doing it is how you think it will feel how would it be perceived in your country, all you have to do is look at the other sports because they are doing it. So I do hope that bit by bit we can come more and more together and more united.”

    https://www.racefans.net/2020/08/03/hamilton-challenges-rivals-reasons-for-not-taking-a-knee/

    1. Lmao, that didn’t take long

  2. what idiot made this question?

    I mean, it is not the United States GP is it?

    Why don’t people ask if the drivers will boycot Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Russia or Turkey? Are they afraid? Are we race as one their as well, just for the slogan? Or will F1 do something?

    1. These questions have already been asked in many previous posts. I and many others have questioned the focus on BLM and not on the other atrocities in the world, all these q’s have been met with disdain from those supporting Ham and BLM, arguments such as ‘this is about a specific cause and not a general protest against Blah, Blah, Blah’ so basically you are rehashing what I consider to be valid questions, but like me and many other, you are wasting your time.
      This is all about Lewis and his fans defending whatever their current agenda/needs are, it is not about over all human rights and equality.
      (I will protest when it is in my favour to do so, I will not protest when it might jeopardise my glory)

    2. On the contrary, it’s a good question. Hamilton needs to address the boycott in some fashion as he’s been on the soapbox already but more importantly because the just the fact that it was asked gets people talking about the issue.
      People are all free to cover their ears and spout gibberish to drown out the noise of course.

  3. guess he can’t put his money where his mouth is

    1. Or his championship position…

    2. Bottas in the wings hoping desperately for Hamilton to boycott a race or two

    3. I expect he’s already doing plenty, and his mouth seems to being doing just fine in getting the message across, given that he appears to be incessantly asked about it.
      In fact arguably by not doing a boycott he achieves more because it stirs up all manner of idiots on the internet who pile in to try and criticise him for supposed hypocrisy thus maybe flagging up to readers in general that maybe we still do have some people with a wee bit of an issue about protesting racism. After all they are always so darn keen to paint the only black guy in the sport in a bad light on trumped up charges.
      Take a long hard look in the mirror dude, what have you done recently to make the world a better place?

  4. So he’s not really committed to the “cause’. Not surprising.

    1. Josh (@canadianjosh)
      27th August 2020, 18:01

      Lol give it a rest man, the teams boycotting will still finish the series and games will be rescheduled, missing a Grand Prix in a short season is pointless especially when it would be big news for a day and then the next day forgotten with no meaningful point. Taking a knee will be what he said he’s going to do all season.

    2. And what screw over his team, he has already done so much for the movement this year

    3. It’s a shame he’s letting the cause down, because we would really have had a race on our hands with one Merrc missing :)

      1. It wouldn’t be missing; Vandoorne would drive it :)

        1. so still missing a Merc in the race then :)

    4. Of coarse he is committed. committed to any cause that suits him, but only to the point where it might have a negative impact, then, quickly reverse the message.
      I used to have respect for him, but all gone now.

  5. So he wont dance when people on here tell him to dance? Seems to me if people on here care, rather than use it as an opportunity to make petty remarks aimed at an individual, they would be insisting that the sport as a whole cease racing.
    But I suppose if they want Vettel as a leading light in the GPDA to make an individual stand then they can offer some justification as to why?

    1. I fully understand Lewis’ comment and decision today.
      But it makes his previous criticism of other drivers a bit ‘questionable’.

    2. @riptide the question will be whether at least some of those criticising him are doing so not because of what they think is or isn’t right, but because they support another driver and wanted Hamilton to boycott the race in the hope that their favourite driver would benefit from it. Some might indeed raise valid questions on a more philosophical level, but equally there seem to be those who have rather baser desires.

      1. I don’t criticise him for not skipping a race, but I do criticise him for making a big fuss about kneeling, and even pressuring others to do it, while he himself didn’t do it back when it still meant something – i.e. when Colin Kaepernick started doing it. One gets the impression that Hamilton only supports the cause when it is completely risk free for him to do so. Which is okay, except he shouldn’t go lecturing others then.

      2. ‘some’ is generous

  6. Lewis in a no win win situation he would either be dammed if you do, dammed if you don’t.

    1. Which is why one must take a long view, based on clear objectives, and with a full and deep understanding of the social, economic, political milieu. Knee jerk, mob following, PR based reactions are bound to make ones life difficult.

      1. Which is why I listen to someone like Hamilton who has been involved in these issues up to UN Ambassador level for a decade. Someone who has clear objectives and goals whether its through EducationAfrica, Unicef, Renaissance or HarlemZone to name a few.

        1. He has done so much it’s ridiculous how people are saying he is sticking to his convictions here. Sitting out a Belgian F1 race would have virtually zero effect on the current situation in the US, which he clearly states as does Vettel. He has done the work where it counts the last decade and it is inspiring to me.

          1. *not sticking to his convictions. Haters need to stop the pettiness

        2. The UN is a thoroughly undemocratic organisation overrun by dictators, celebrities that want themselves to look good and extremist activists. The one thing that they rarely care about is scientific fact. I’ve seen many a UN document filled with false claims clearly just copied from other bad sources, rather than being based on scientific fact.

          The result is a dysfunctional organization that simultaneously does it best to protect those in power, no matter how corrupt they are, while doing activism that is largely divorced from fact. It’s the rather common kind of activism that makes the activists look and feel good, but which rarely actually helps those it pretends to help.

    2. Tend to agree, but he at least could be consistent.

      He has no real basis for boycotting the race, for a range of reasons mentioned. Think about the practicalities of turning up on the Friday and telling Toto that he intends to sit out at the last moment, and Mercedes need to draft someone in, Hulkenberg style. On top of that it has implications on winning the championship this year, and Hamilton’s legacy (ie whether he matches or exceeds Schumacher’s 7 championships).

      Unfortunately what he’s saying now is inconsistent what what he’s said and done previously. Why didn’t he just say “I think I can have a greater impact by choosing to race this weekend”??

  7. Jose Lopes da Silva
    27th August 2020, 16:58

    Boycotting sport outside of the United States doesn’t seem right.
    He’d better continue to annoy the people that feel more annoyed with him than with those videos.

  8. petebaldwin (@)
    27th August 2020, 17:01

    “But that is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have an effect.” – As long as everyone kneels down though yeah? You can do that in any country and the effect is limitless. It’s all over the news whereas if you decided to miss a race, I’m not sure a single person would even notice.

  9. Boycotting will not make effect. Taking a knee and bullying others to do the same will make a difference?

    Even if this was the US GP, I’m pretty sure Hamilton wouldn’t boycott it. As soon, as money is involved, Hamilton changes his approach.

    1. Don’t understand that. He gives millions away to charity and funds numerous causes. So what is this change of approach when money is involved you talk about?

      1. @riptide
        Are these millions he gives to charity the same ones he saved by using dodgy tactics to avoid being taxed when he purchased his private jet?

        https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/06/lewis-hamilton-avoided-taxes-jet-isle-of-man-scheme-paradise-papers

        He doesn’t care about doing the honourable thing, all he cares about is trying to look good so people will like him. Not saying that he should boycott the race on principle, I’m actually glad he hasn’t. What I am saying, though, is that I don’t think he’s as committed to the BLM cause as he tries to make it seem. I’m sure he really wants positive change, but I think his actions in response to the BLM movement have been a bit superficial and self absorbed, and I wouldn’t be surprised if public reception played a big part in him deciding to be as vocal about it as he has been. Let’s be honest, I don’t think there was ever any reason to think that he would risk something important to him like going for his 7th championship title in order to show that level of support for the BLM cause.

      2. Perhaps areference to how he cheated UK tax laws to buy his private jet…surely he makes enough he can pay tax like the rest of us mere mortals.

        1. He didnt cheat. Your loose use of the word just shows your ignorance of the matter. And he pays his tax. He doesn’t reside in the UK but still pays tax there which puts him in the top 5000 of British tax payers, as confirmed in a written submission before Parliament. But as far as I know mere mortals who reside abroad don’t pay tax back in the UK. So are you arguing he should now should stop paying tax in the UK like the rest of the ‘mere mortals’?
          But I do understand your point. For example the million pounds he gave direct to Children in Need he should not have done. Rather he should have given it to the government and they would see to it that it was spent wisely.

          1. @riptide

            Yes, then it is spent democratically on things that the populace thinks are important, rather than what a single rich person considers important.

          2. So you are saying people who want to donate to a charity should not do so? You don’t think the British public should give £25 million plus each year to Children in Need, but give it to the government instead because they know best? Or are you suggesting that this should only apply to Hamilton?

  10. I think there is a different dynamic between Hamilton, the Mercedes Team, and F1.

    Hamilton is the most visible and member of an international team and business. Thousands of people who are expecting a performance bonus. They have a complicated relationship with Merc, FIA, Liberty, race promoters, and fans. I can see why Hamilton does not want to let them down.

    Contrast that to the NBA. 12 guys, training staff vs the owners. In a different country that is having a political upheaval.

    I understand if he wants to take a different approach.

    1. “Political upheaval”…that’s a good one. It’s August…in an election year. That’s about as predictable as a Merc being on the podium Sunday. It’s going to happen. Move on folks, honestly. This has happened many times before in America, nothing new. F1 folks should focus on F1. Really. If Lewis want’s to comment, fine, but he won’t solve jack. He has zero influence/power on this. Let’s talk race cars. He’s a race car driver. It’s not that complicated.

      1. GtisBetter (@)
        27th August 2020, 23:37

        Can you give some examples when “this” has happened many times in America? Also, what do you mean by “this”?

        1. BLM 2015

          1. GtisBetter (@)
            28th August 2020, 8:19

            1 time is many times? Also this is very different from the 2015 movement.

      2. Sully you must live under a rock mentaly, to be able to spout that. Also put some respect on his name because his cojones have achieved more than your entire liniege.

        1. Please tell me you are talking about someone other than Lewis…again…talking race cars and race drivers here. To the comment about “this” happening before…I was referring to race, racism, police confrontation, political spin jobs. Look up U.S. history…”Red Summer”, “Tulsa Race Riots”, the mid to late 1960s. Then again in 2012. I mean, just pick a decade. The “now” is not unique, we just have social media and 24hr news.

          As for Lewis, let’s talk racing as this is what the site is for. Yes, he has achieved much as a race car driver. But he is a race car driver. As for what he’s accomplished, when he retires, and gets even more accolades and starts to accumulate “GOAT” votes, the white elephant in the room that all F1 Fanatics ;-) will need to deal with is this: what role or impact has the dominance of the Merc car / engine played in his greatness? I mean, what if in some alternate universe, Lewis and Kimi swapped cars. Or dare I say Fernando and Lewis swapped cars in say, 2016. What would Lewis show in the spectrum of F1? Would he produce something in those cars to promote the accolades? Would he even win? It’s a question any racing series fan has to address. I would say the answer most likely is “no”. Has he donated money to charities? Sure. Good on him. But the folks who designed and built his race cars are as much a factor in his success and what he has accomplished on track as he is, if not more at the F1 level.

          “you must live under a rock mentaly”…that is awesome…I’ve elicited a response on the forum!!! my first!!!

  11. Obviously the championship is far more important than his so-called beliefs. You should be ashamed of yourself, Lewis!

  12. Jack (@jackisthestig)
    27th August 2020, 17:15

    I’m not having a pop at Lewis but how on earth is he allowed to bring his dog into the paddock with all the current restrictions in place?

    1. I mean, why wouldn’t you? >:)

    2. Perez, Bottas, Leclerc disappear all over the world.

      Lewis brings his dog with him. You’d prefer he fly back to be with him?

    3. @jackisthestig

      I’m thinking the same. I read somewhere the Covid restrictions have changed a little, with teams now using their own catering services and allowed 10 extra employees from the number allowed before. Maybe Lewis was given permission to bring his dog #seeingasheisworldchampionandallthat 😐

      Mind you, a friend of mine works in retail and their employer’s “no dogs in the shop” rule has changed 🤷🏻‍♂️

    4. So you can bring your girlfriend/wife, trainer, etc; but not your dog?

      1. I was thinking the same about the dog. Obviously it’s well trained but I bet moving it between countries is a huge amount of paperwork and distancing at the moment could be awkward.

        1. It’s the scooter that gets me, I think who ever win the race, should get the scooter for the next weekend:)

      2. @riptide

        I doubt that the dog is trained to keep sufficient distance from people, but dogs have been found to be able to get and thus transmit COVID.

  13. Boycotting a race, while you re chasing numbers and records? It will NEVER happen. Not, until he surpasses MS’s records….

    1. Exactly what I thought! But wait, sending a message is more important than chasing MS’s records and getting all of them. But we’re not in the US, so no impact, no one is watching F1 in the US anyway.. It’s one week this, the other week something else.

  14. Bored with it all…

  15. I have followed Hamilton for many years and I am constantly amazed at the evolution of this man through the challenges of his career to become a global spokesperson for human rights.

    After taking a WDC, it was still assumed by many that Rosberg had a natural advantage over Hamilton to efficiently utilize the more complex hybrid features of the steering wheel.

    I am privileged to witness the era of Lewis Hamilton as a race driver and enlightened human. Keep rising Lewis!

    1. Last sentence, I feel the same way.

  16. It’s an American protest against an American incident, led by Americans, in America.

    It was maybe inevitable that he’d be asked about it, but it would be daft to expect any other answer than the one he gave.

    1. Naomi Osaka stepped out of a half final WTA match.

      1. And stepped right back in :) She’s playing tomorrow.
        And it’s just a minor tournament, not really a sacrifice to make. Hamilton would be risking a WDC if he were to skip a race; that would potentially be a huge sacrifice.

      2. Osaka’s lived in the US since she was a very young child, so it’s probably as close to her as it would be to someone who’d been born there.

    2. The whole kneeling in the first place was to bring attention to the fact that the same issues exist everywhere. It’s not just an American thing.

      1. Police having guns and shooting black people is very much a USA thing.

        1. They also shoot white people, but white people shot by the police get 9 times less media attention. You’re being manipulated by being shown a distorted view of reality…

          1. An alternative movement to BLM to protect those people has existed for decades.
            They wear hooded robes and burn crosses.
            Quite a bit of media attention as well.

          2. @coldfly

            The KKK get an enormous amount of attention for a nearly non-existent organization. If they protest with advance notice, they require police protection to protect themselves from far greater groups of violent counter-protesters that invariably show up. They can’t protect themselves, let alone others.

            The ‘woke’ narrative about pervasive white supremacy has little to do with the truth, so they have to exaggerate and lie to protect their false worldview from the facts. Helped by most of the media who are extremely biased and refuse to fact-check people on the left like they fact-check people on the right.

            For example, Democratic politicians have called 17 year old Kyle, who defended himself from left-wing attackers, a white supremacist, with zero evidence, other than that he might have been at a Trump rally. If being a Trump supporter makes you a white supremacist, then half the voters are such. The media fact-checkers are ignoring this like usual. There might be a New Yorker article in a few years how Kyle’s life has been destroyed by left-wing vigilantes, like they wrote for Darren Wilson. Yet they won’t hold the left-wing media to account for their role in portraying innocent people as villains, with lies (unlike the right-wing media, that gets blamed for everything).

            The irony is that the left-wing goal of disarming the population is undermined by the ‘white lives don’t matter’ racism on the left. Weapon sales are through the roof as trust that (Democratic) state government will protect people is decreasing rapidly. Yet people on the right haven’t sought confrontations to anywhere near the extent that people on the left do, mostly limiting themselves to protecting people and property.

          3. The KKK might very well be “a nearly non-existent organization” because Karen doesn’t need a hood when sharing her supremacy ideas via the internet hiding behind an animal picture.

          4. @coldfly

            Yeah, keep moving those goal posts so you never have to admit to talking nonsense.

  17. He is right.
    Boycotting a mainstream American sport, heavily featuring African Americans is a different thing, and I know he would do it too if he were playing there.
    Boycotting a race in Belgium won’t show anything at all.

    Continue your great work Mr. Hamilton.

  18. Traffic!

  19. Why do you think they are started in the first place?

    Or if you want to be really cynical. Black man asked what he would do. ‘Not sure, possibly take a knee, but I wont disrupt the ceremony or national anthems.’

    And suddenly Sky, F1, GPDA, FIA all want a piece of that action and take the whole process over. I wonder why?

  20. Lewis is a privileged child who likes to be fashionable, and today the fashion is, political correctness, he does not support black people, he supports the political movement, and the “chic” is to seem a committed person, … but when you really have to put your hands in like other athletes, Lewis will take a step to tie up, he will only settle for putting his knee to the ground, and that he appears in the photos, of course, … if you have to feel like a victim, Lewis goes to be in the front row, and pressuring his colleagues, … but one step further he will not take, that will no longer look good in the photos, it is not very “chic”.
    Put your hands really in the movement, Lewis better prefer to turn the other way, and the truly committed athletes are going to be left alone, … without Lewis.
    …hey Lewis, your protest is actually plastic.

    1. Sad Lewis will not boycott, because Spa would be a terrific race with one Merc absent.

    2. The fight against racism is right. And finally being against racism is cool and fashionable.

      But I agree with you. Racism existed in the world for a long time, Hamilton apparently only decided to publicly fight against it when it became PR positive.

      There are lots of people in sport who were on the fight much before him, when it wasn’t cool, and they suffered the consequences lo like Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Kaepernick. They are the sport heroes of this fight. Now that every major brand is no afraid of posting with #blm, Hamilton protests are irrelevant unless he takes them to the next step, which according to this news he will never do, mostly because he does not want to loose even part of his privilege.

      1. He has been fighting these issues, and the wider issues of those less fortunate than others, for over a decade. Its not his problem you delight in wallowing in your own ignorance.

        1. Ian, let me tell you, I really like that you support just causes, I, like you, detest injustice and I detest racism,… but also ignorance and hypocrisy,… false positions.
          I like what Kapernick does, he put his hands on the problem and I support him… what Lewis does is vanilla.
          I do not want to extend, … but please, tonight or the weekend, take some time to investigate what Black Lives Matter is,
          Ian, you and I support the same thing, but from different perspectives… I think.

        2. If he did this before it was cool, why hadn’t he kneeled in solidarity with Kaepernick in the moment it was more important, and decided to do that several years later when it was risk free?

          By “fighting this issues” you probably mean “giving to charity”. Hamilton lives in the US, everybody gives to charities there, even the worst rich people you can imagine give to charities, why? Because they receive tax benefits.

      2. F1Recorder, …thumbs up

      3. This is just bs. He didn’t start the recent wave of interest in the issue, but he’s supporting the wider cause.
        Sometimes I wonder why he bothered at all the amount of rubbish he gets.

        1. @john-h That’s just it John. He didn’t start it, but saw it was fashionable. It’s just like his veganism and before that dating that pop-group girl. It’s all ego. Whatever is fashionable, Lewis will take a picture with it.

    3. …although I have a nice idea for you Lewis.
      Taking advantage of the fact that you are in Belgium, maybe you could organize a small protest in front of the statue of Leopold ll of Belgium, the worst genocidal of black people in the history of mankind, this is a good idea you could do, I’m sure athletes Americans will see it with sympathy, they will support you a lot. …I would also support you.

    4. @luis Hear, hear!

  21. Hmm.. Belgium has some problems with racism as well though Lewis, including abuse of authority from police. Like some cops beating arrestants in a backroom while one presents a nazi salute..

  22. If it was later in the season and Lewis had the title wrapped up, he’d skip the race.

  23. Glad to see virtue signalling stops somewhere

  24. He doesn’t have enough of a points lead to start boycotting races.

  25. Seems some didn’t notice that all NBA players and all baseball players boycotted their respective games. One person sitting out would have little if any impact at all, so Lewis is correct in his assessment.

  26. The important point of the boycotts in the basketball was all of the players did it. Can anybody picture Leclerc, Sainz or Verstappen joining a boycott?

    1. @mjhoward – Leclerc, Sainz or Verstappen, didn’t say the things Lewis said, this is about Lewis being two faced. changing his perspective/point of view when it suits his personal needs. makes everything he says shallow.
      He has precisely and exactly contradicted himself over the last few months.

    2. Actually one team started the NBA Player boycott and the remainder followed. The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted before their playoff game against Orlando Magic. Then the remainder of the players followed.

  27. Lewis Hamilton, still mind-rattling h8ters and living rent-free in their heads…

    1. Not living in anyone’s head, just an occasional visitor, welcome or not.

  28. So he’s not going to boycott a race because another black criminal who beats children up got killed How big of him

  29. He’s all for anti-racism and stuff as long as it doesn’t affect his pocket. Good thing kneeling is free.

  30. So, let me get this straight. An American felon with a warrant for arrest breaks into a woman’s home. She calls the police and they respond. The felon fights the cops, resists arrest and reaches for a weapon and gets shot. This is worth sitting out a race in Belgium?

    1. Similar argument to the Floyd situation really, but a guess that argument didn’t suit the agenda at the time.

    2. @tvandyke – It does talk volumes about BLM, Protesting when a black person gets hurt regardless of the circumstances, but not saying a word about the 29 people that have died in the USA as a direct result of the BLM protests.
      BLM protesting against “crimes” that don’t come close to the ones they are committing.

    3. Stupid me thought it was because the police shot a human being seven times in the back.

  31. is argument is the exact opposite to what it was and has been over the past few months. I recall things like, ‘by doing nothing you are part of the problem’ ETC…
    He is not boycotting, simply because he does not want to risk the championship. 100% about himself, he does not really care about others and he has 100% proven it now.

  32. Why would he, it was a legitimate shoot and the guy is at fault for the actions the police undertook.

    1. @jblank – Then why didn’t he just say that?

    2. The police have so many options before firing their weapon, especially firing it seven times.

      The US urgently needs gun reform of everyone, citizens and law enforcement.

      1. @JC

        The police tried to taser and grapple with Blake. People like you and the media can keep lying all you want, pretending that things that actually happened, did not, but it just drives people like me who do want police and judicial reform away from leftist activism. I have no trust that you will make science- and fact-based changes, when you keep lying about what happened, refuse to wait for a thorough investigation before making judgments and go after police officers who did what they were trained to do. The latter also shows that the claim that the real concern is systemic racism rather than vigilante justice against individuals is just a lie, as well.

        1. go after police officers who did what they were trained to do.

          Shooting in the back is not part of police training. Get your facts straight.

          1. Oh, are you a trained police officer?

            There are actually situations where the police can shoot people in the back.

          2. “Shooting in the back is not part of police training. Get your facts straight.”
            But rather than admitting such common knowledge you raise moot points and go into hypotheticals.

          3. @coldfly

            Pure sophistry.

        2. let's return to sports
          28th August 2020, 14:35

          @aapje glad to see there are still people who care about facts.

  33. Calamity Hamilton strikes again.

  34. But that is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have an effect. We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States.

    Oh, the irony…

    1. +10, Yep, exactly the opposite to his previous position.

    2. It’s hilarious

  35. Maybe I missed some memo but my understanding is that the current protests were about injustice within law enforcement in the US, hence the boycotting by some American athletes and by those playing in America. A protest by a British driver in a European F1 race is hardly going to hammer home the point of the current messaging about the state of justice in the US.

    Clearly the BLM movement is also still around but the current protests were about outrage for a specific incident by a US police officer.

    I liked Vettel’s point of it being all or none ideally. I also happen to think Liberty would provide more messaging to help communicate about the issue rather than lose their drivers for a race.

    1. @slowmo – Where were you when the Mr Floyd incident happened? Your comment would have applied exactly to that incident as well, but Lewis was all about supporting BLM and the protests (In America), but now the protest has stepped up and he has shown his true colours.
      This is such a total and quick about face that he must have bumped into himself

      1. @malrg the incidents are comparable as you say but the reaction is subtlety different. I think the Floyd incident sparked a international debate on how institutionalised racism is not being tackled around the world. The current incident happening so quickly on the heels of it shows America has a huge issue in this area specifically which is why the protests were more focused there this time.

        BLM gave a voice for many to

        1. protest and became a global movement, this issue is indeed again specific to America but it highlights that despite the raising of awareness this is something that needs immediate action in America. So I think one incident gave rise to a global movement while the second was a stark pointer that nothing changed in America despite all recent protests.

  36. Lewis Hamilton – the biggest hypocrite known to man.

    1. @sjzelli – Absolutely
      To quote Lewis from 3rd August – “I’m not going to tell you what my opinion on whether or not everyone needs to or not,” he said. “But if you look at all the other sports, look at basketball, you look at football and Spanish teams, Italian teams, teams all over the world, no matter what nationality or mixture they are, they’re all doing it united. You’ve got players from Russia you’ve got players from Spain.”
      And now – “But that is in America and I don’t know if really me doing anything here will particularly have an effect. We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States.”

    2. Josh (@canadianjosh)
      28th August 2020, 5:51

      Lol, known to man? What about biggest hypocrite known to women? Come on now let’s include all sexes when we use that type of language Karen…. I mean Sara

      1. Interestingly, Karen has a difficult position here (see her various posts above). She agrees with Lewis that no protest is warranted.
        How ironic.
        @canadianjosh

  37. The rest of the professional sporting world is ‘taking a knee’. Now that she has an opportunity to put her money where her mouth is – nothing. Shamilton only supports OMLM = only my life matters

    1. Josh (@canadianjosh)
      28th August 2020, 5:58

      Lewis is the biggest hypocrite known to man and the sporting world is a she…

    2. Agreed.

      The problem is I think it takes a vaguely smart person to realise how much of an idiot Lewis Hamilton is. Great driver yes, not so much the rest of him.

    3. ISWYDT.
      so subtle though.

  38. Please don’t ever boycott. Keep racing guys!

  39. If he was to boycott then the whole season is up in smoke to be honest. No-one wants to win the championship or race for that matter if the best isn’t racing

  40. Sergey Martyn
    28th August 2020, 7:19

    If Hamilton takes a knee for Floyd then it would be logical to stand on both knees for Floyd and Blake. If someone else will be killed he should also place his forehead on the ground.

  41. Barry Bens (@barryfromdownunder)
    28th August 2020, 7:34

    Boycotting a race when a criminal with priors gets shot? What has the world come to if that is even a question.

    1. A criminal who is violating a restraining order by going to the house of his ex-partner that he used to beat up, who refused to obey police orders, who fought with the police and who reached for a knife in his car.

      Or according to the media: an innocent family man shot for no reason.

      1. They should prosecute the police for not killing him off there and then.

    2. Seriously?

  42. So, HAM has a different scale depending on whether his actions take a toll against what he earns or not.

    It’s an interesting outcome, considering how he behaved in the last months when other drivers didn’t take a knee

    One would guess 1, 2 or 7 shoots aren’t enough to have a reaction from HAM. Maybe his threshold is around 10. Or when a knee is involved.

    Anyway, his commitment will be displayed when he has to wear a different t-shirt. What a farce.

  43. I dont know why I bothered reading the comments section of this article, I already knew how most of it would go (with the few exceptions from the usual people – well done to you all as usual, you know who you are)

    If this is even just a glimmer of a snapshot of the consensus across the wider population, then I really do fear for the future of our society, and it makes me sad for my little girl

    1. Spare us. Wanna buy into lies and media distortions that are trying to inflame tensions, that’s YOUR problem, but don’t come in here and declare the end of the world because we don’t buy into this everyone white is a racist myth or the myth that every cop is bad and every criminal innocent.

      Get over yourself.

  44. I’m with everyone that’s against racism or any form of hurting others.

    However, it’s a little disappointing that he is not joining the other sportspeople and being as dedicated to the cause as he previously suggested he was. Especially after the barbed comments towards other drivers in his own sport.

    As good a driver Hamilton is, he lets himself down in his off-track attitudes and behaviour. What’s good for him everyone must fall in line with but it’s rarely reciprocated back to others.

    :shrug:

  45. Oh yes, it’s much more easy to bully fellow drivers and the system into taking a knee as it is more convenient than risking a championship and potential penalty from his employers! Everyone might stand for a cause till the cost is low for them!

  46. The undercurrent of views on racial issues on this website disturbs me. The arrogance, the wanting the world to be black and white and I’m right mentality is decades out of date. It’s as strong an indicator as anything that there is indeed a systemic problem. Any time such an article appears on this website some comments display a lack tolerance, empathy and an appreciation for the actual reality that we live with; condemning attempts by others to at least try to make a difference in this world. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Please.

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