Lewis Hamilton admitted he had fears over expressing his support for LGBTQ+ rights during the first Qatar Grand Prix two years ago.
Formula 1 has returned to the Losail International Circuit for the first time since Hamilton’s victory in the inaugural 2021 event. He won the race wearing a helmet bearing the rainbow colours of the pride flag.Homosexuality is illegal in the Middle Eastern nation. Human rights organisations have reported gay and transgender Qataris have been imprisoned and abused by the authorities.
Qatar did not hold a Formula 1 race last year as it hosted the football World Cup. Returning to the country for the first time since his 2021 victory, Hamilton admitted it was a “really difficult question” whether F1’s presence there could have a positive effect on the lives of Qatar’s LGBTQ+ community.
“I think it’s always good and well raising awareness for things, but it’s more about the work that’s done in the background,” said Hamilton. “It’s the conversations that you continue to have to have.
“It’s just such a big machine to shift as well. It’s not only what people here – it’s a whole country that’s very young – and particularly in this part of the world, and it’s taken the West a long, long time to get to where they are. So I think all we can do is try to just be positive when we do come to these places and do take the opportunity.”
Hamilton will continue to carry the pride flag this weekend as he has done in other countries with similarly repressive legislation, such as Saudi Arabia.
“I was very proud in 2021, it was also nerve-wracking because I didn’t know how the country would react. But it was amazing when I do meet people who are incredibly grateful for utilising a platform for something like that, where they felt like they perhaps didn’t feel included.
“As a sport we have to continue to work on our inclusivity. Diversity continues to be an issue.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has justified the series’ presence in countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia saying it will inspire progress there. Hamilton team mate George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers Association, agrees with that view.
“First and foremost, as drivers, we put our trust in Formula 1 to help with these decisions. It’s important that we do see change and I think change is happening. It obviously doesn’t happen overnight.
“It’s obviously a very important topic with many places we go to, but I think Formula 1 and sport generally can have a really positive impact for the local culture and issues that they’re facing. So I hope we’re here for the right reasons.”
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2023 Qatar Grand Prix
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Dex
6th October 2023, 9:44
I don’t really enjoy political propaganda, and I do think that there are more endangered categories these days, but Middle East is something different and I did applaud his choice. That was a case where the message didn’t serve only for personal gratification, because there it is needed. But I don’t think anyone expected Hamilton to be imprisoned or anything, GP is sheikh’s personal toy after all, and laws in those countries do not apply to everyone, equally or at all. Now, if Lewis wasn’t a part of F1, or if he wasn’t famous, he’d be spending the rest of his days in jail, if lucky. Being who he is, he was in no danger, after all his plan wasn’t a secret. He’d receive a “friendly” message if they were to do something about it.
Ludewig
6th October 2023, 21:11
It’s actually very telling how blind he is of his massive privilege if he thinks that there was even a whisper of a chance that he would go to jail. And it’s not just over there, any F1 driver can get away with much more than regular people in the West as well.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
7th October 2023, 2:13
its actually more dangerous to be against ‘pride’ these days. His helmet is politically correct. People’s sexual habits are nobody elses concern unless it involves minors or abuse. Where is decency ? And why does corporate/big money need to ram habits that destroy the family down our throats ? Disgusting. If Lewis wants to stand for something, it should be for causes that are not popular or politically correct, otherwise please just say no. Anyways, most of the times I would say keep politics out of racing, it’s only ever used to divide people, just like racism.
Wallbreaker (@wallbreaker)
7th October 2023, 10:34
As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, the only thing that’s disgusting to me is your comment. It is full of extreme right-wing lingo and propaganda.
Please enlighten me how it is dangerous to you for being against pride. Are you being imprisoned for that? Are you being abused for that while being imprisoned? Are you being killed for that? No? Then just be quiet. Because these are the real consequences for queer people in countries like Qatar just for being who they are which is something they do not choose. Imagine being treated like that just for being straight. It’s not something you chose to be but still a frightening prospect, isn’t it?
It would be, if it previously had racial or sexual slurs on it. Putting a rainbow flag on your helmet to raise awareness for a human rights issue is a matter of human decency.
Guess what. That’s what we’re trying to tell people for decades. Yet autocrat regimes like nothing more than getting involved in queer people’s lives by imprisoning, abusing and killing them just for the way they choose to live. And they LOVE comparing queer people to pedophiles which couldn’t be any further from the truth.
Please tell me how acceptance and tolerance for queer people does affect your habits and your family. Did anyone tell you you’d have to be queer all of a sudden? Did anyone tell you you’d have to leave your family and choose a same-sex partner? No? Yeah I didn’t think so. No one‘s ever asking to destroy someone’s habits or families. What we‘re really asking for is being accepted for who we are and then being left alone to live our lives as we see fit. And not just in your home country but across the world. I love traveling but the amount of countries I choose not to go to because of the way they treat queer people is becoming bigger and bigger. Have you ever been to a country and feared to be imprisoned or worse just for being straight? No? You’d better be silent on the matter then.
Again, this has nothing to do with political correctness or popularity. This is a human rights issue. If you don’t want to see it raised because you don’t want to deal with it, YOU are part of the problem.
It can only divide people if there are people that are openly for racism and queerphobia. Are you?
Lee1
7th October 2023, 23:43
Habits that destroy the family?
Habits like violence against women, violence against children, broken families as a result of drugs, alcohol? Divorces due to cheating? The bible prescribes horrific punishments for women cheating on men but non for men that cheat on women…
I am not sure what the effect homosexuality has on families…. especially given that is has been prevalent since before Christianity was even invented and yet families are still around and to be honest, Homosexual couples often seem to be far more connected and stable than many heterosexual relationships.
We even somehow managed to kill the person who saved the world during world war 2 because he was gay…
Who are the civilised people here?
Red Andy (@red-andy)
6th October 2023, 10:19
Hamilton’s stance is admirable, but Russell’s comments at the end of the article are just depressing. Does he really have nothing better to contribute than the same old tired, discredited justifications for sportswashing? Grow a pair, George.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th October 2023, 10:39
@red-andy Between this and his extremely careful remarks about Andretti, Russell was very on-message yesterday.
Facts&Stats
6th October 2023, 12:38
They should’ve asked him to come up with some specific examples how F1/sports has (or even can have) a positive impact on local culture and issues.
Leroy (@g-funk)
6th October 2023, 12:49
MBS already said the quiet part out loud when he said he is sportswashimg and it’s because of the money it brings to his country. I don’t understand why F1 and others are keeping up this painfully obvious charade that only makes them look like naive fools being played by rich oligarchs at best, and tacitly complicit in these regimes crimes at worst. F1 has a long history of being cozy with unsavory characters but this seems to be a new low.
Leroy (@g-funk)
6th October 2023, 12:50
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-crown-prince-says-he-does-not-care-about-sportswashing-claims-2023-09-22/
Nev
6th October 2023, 22:47
Agreed.well said!
Armchair Expert (@armchairexpert)
6th October 2023, 10:26
Whoa, so proud of them!
Moshambles (@moshambles)
6th October 2023, 10:58
Go on then
BamBoomBots
6th October 2023, 12:24
My problem with the super-rich advocating for change like this is that they are benefitting off the very system that is oppressing those that they claim to support.
Lewis Hamilton has 100s of millions, and he is not paying the tax he should be paying in the UK which is the very means that a society has to redistribute wealth and offer equal opportunity to all. And yes, this is also true for probably all other F1-drivers and most other sportspeople which makes claims on morality a bit uninformed from their side at best, and marketing at worst.
With equal opportunity comes less oppression as it could empower all. Stop hoarding the wealth from the billionaires paying you and give what you do not need to those who need it. Advocate to put measures in place that would reduce tax evasion and money laundering so that society becomes stronger. In other words, put your money where your mouth is. Unless action in that direction is taken, any claims on morality they intend to make are rather empty.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
6th October 2023, 12:29
So, you’re saying that people in a position of influence shouldn’t use that influence for the common good?
That just leaves people without influence to change the world then. Unfortunately, as the description suggests, they have no influence so might find it a bit difficult!
BamBoomBots
6th October 2023, 13:00
Yes one person can in fact change the world. It is that very premise that empowers billionaires through the use of dark money, and it is what makes individual activism effective (sometimes)
All I am saying that racing with a rainbow flag will change nothing for the oppressed people in Qatar, as the people in power (with the accumulated wealth) will not change, nor will Hamiltons actions result in effective activism towards changing the situation for those people.
Improving the situation for the oppressed requires that on correctly identifies the root cause of the oppression.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
6th October 2023, 12:31
From an article earlier this year:
Facts&Stats
6th October 2023, 12:46
It’s easy to be high on a donation list if you pay less taxes than others.
I wonder if he is still high on the list if taxes are seen as charitable donations as well.
It bit like sportswashing :p
BamBoomBots
6th October 2023, 12:48
No amount of philantrophy can revert the damage done by accumulating the wealth in the first place.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/sep/08/how-philanthropy-benefits-the-super-rich
Until I see any sportsperson advocating for imposing an actually fair tax regime on them and strengthening the fabric of society and democracy, they are all the same.
Adrian Hancox (@ahxshades)
6th October 2023, 13:28
I fear you are pushing against a closed door with some people Keith
Coventry Climax
6th October 2023, 13:47
I think most people would absolutely love being able to donate 50 million dollar to charities of their choice, not evade paying a 100 million or more in taxes without the need to watch their spendings or do their finances personally.
Just look at the number of people worldwide that buy lottery tickets and/or gamble.
Pod
6th October 2023, 15:00
If Lewis was domiciled in the UK he’d be contributing 45% of his annual income to “philanthropy,” under the threat of prison. The philanthropy that puts Lewis near the top of this list pales by comparison.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
6th October 2023, 20:21
That’s cool, but charitable donations don’t fund public healthcare and schools. I find it hard to understand that people with so much money can’t just contribute their share to fund their country. It should be something to be proud of.
slowmo (@slowmo)
6th October 2023, 14:34
What does advocating against human rights abuses have to do with paying taxes? Seems more like an excuse to silence criticism of a horrible regime.
Now if you want to campaign for the ending of capitalism comrade, I’m all for it.
BamBoomBots
6th October 2023, 16:04
My main point is that human rights abuse and tax evasion are connected. Tax evasion as a phenomenon is enabled by failing or malicious policy which in itself is a trademark of authoritarian regimes that act with only their grasp on wealth and power in mind.
If you manage to shift the power balance by shifting the resource ownership, that is where you would actually enable space for a society to change for the better for all it’s citizens.
The net result of Hamiltons actions at the moment is zero change for the local LGBTQ+ people and it allows a despicable Qatari regime to market itself as tolerant.
AlanD
6th October 2023, 16:53
I think you’ll find he is paying every penny of the tax which he should be paying in the UK. Does his accountant make sure he pays not one penny more than he is supposed to? Yes certainly. Is that wrong? No. Before you respond to this point, please tell me, are you paying more tax than you need to, and if not why not? If you don’t voluntarily pay more than you need to, why do you exxpect anyone else to do so?
BamBoomBots
6th October 2023, 17:46
You leave out that Hamilton (or any other millionaire that can stash their money somewhere normal people can’t) is paying a mere fraction of his total income, whereas people with a regular job pay a standard amount of tax which might be income dependent, but procentually always a ton more than what someone who can afford an accountant pays.
Is Hamilton breaking the law? Obviously not. Is he making big use of the very system that creates the inequality he claims to fight? Very much so.
TTTCOTTH
6th October 2023, 13:51
Bottom story of the day
Coventry Climax
6th October 2023, 13:55
That’s a very flawed way of reasoning. There’s no need for ‘young countries’ to go the same path the West took and take the same amount of time for it. It’s not like they have to reinvent the wheel with no examples given. There’s examples worldwide, Global UN conventions, human rights jotted down and what not.
There’s other reasons they arrange things these ways in their countries, and we shouldn’t support that.
dokushoka
6th October 2023, 13:59
So the idea here is that a rich person from the western world is invited to another country and says, “Your culture and religious values are wrong. You must abandon them and adopt mine.” Isn’t there a specific word for that?
floodo1 (@floodo1)
6th October 2023, 14:21
Everyone likes the sports washing money YEP
Pod
6th October 2023, 14:54
What Stefano Domenicalli means, is that as long as the checks clear, he couldn’t care less.
Pod
6th October 2023, 14:55
And what George Russell means, is that he knows who butters his bread, so he agrees with Stefano unconditionally.
MichaelN
6th October 2023, 17:18
George Russell is speaking on behalf of a list of corporations and organisations longer than that of most US politicians and their entirely legit donors. He also doesn’t have the results to his name that could afford him some personal flexibility in these matters. So while people might want to know what ‘George Russell, F1 driver for Mercedes’ has to say, few care what ‘George from Norfolk’ thinks. That’s just how sports works for most participants; it’s nothing personal.
He’s also comes at this as one of the prime spokespeople of the GPDA, so in the interest of keeping that organization in the loop with discussions between the FIA, teams, FOM, etc. he can’t be seen as a troublemaker. Yes, he chose that role, but it seems fair to not attribute everything he says entirely to him as an individual.
Dr.D
6th October 2023, 21:13
I wonder if he is going to show his nipples or protest guns in Austin.
I would fear the Americans more than the Qatary. As long as you are not building stadions.
melanos
7th October 2023, 18:03
Go ride a crane in your magnificent princess dress