Jean Todt, president of the FIA recently told RacingNews365 that while he respects Lewis Hamilton’s social activism, he does not always agree with the way he gets involved. He goes on to say “sometimes I think it can be done differently, but the fact that he wants to be so involved in every subject, I respect that too.” This is the same Jean Todt who considered banning Lewis for 6 races back in May of 2011, when Lewis was upset about getting constantly penalized by the stewards, and had made the comment “maybe it’s because I’m black”. That might have been an indication that Lewis was already acutely aware of some of the challenges he was destined to face in the sport.
Funny thing is, Lewis could still say the same thing 10 years later, after being pushed off that track by Formula one’s championship front-runner, Max Verstappen on lap 48 at Interlagos, with no consequence for what appeared to be a deliberate act.
Especially when there are similar incidents that have happened this season, for example when Lando Norris at the Austrian Grand Prix this year was given a 5 second time penalty for pushing Sergio Perez wide into the gravel trap during the race.
Lewis is of mixed-race background, the boy from Stevenage, 30 miles north of London was born to a white mother, and a Grenadian-British father. At a young age he had to deal with bullying and being picked on in school. He once made the statement that “as a kid I remember just staying quiet about it because I didn’t feel anyone really understood. I just kept it to myself.” Sport offered him an outlet. “I did boxing because I needed to channel the pain,” so “I did karate because I was being beaten up and I wanted to be able to defend myself.”
The competition should take note, the challenges he faced growing up, has prepared him for the ones he currently faces in F1. From where I sit, he appears to be now quite comfortable with his racial identity, seemingly no longer quietly accepting things as they are, he has found his voice and causes worth fighting for.
When you compare the two incidents, there is no conceivable reason Max should not have gotten a penalty based on precedent.
If the FIA President does not agree with the way Lewis gets involved in social activism, we should not question his motives, but surely, Mr. Todt has a corporate team behind him at the FIA that provides diversity and culture training. And with this, can understand the passion behind Lewis’s activism more so than any other driver on the grid. Given their vast resources, any minimal research would make them aware that bullying and racial remarks were a consistent feature of the 7 x WDC’s childhood. This would help them understand his passion to seek equality for marginalized communities, and they should seek to partner with him.
Of course, the FIA President is free to express his personal opinions on the matter of Social Activism, but as the head of the sport, who is spearheading a #WeRaceAsOne campaign with an emphasis on diversity—you’d think there’d be more to say than his preference of how Lewis conducts his advocacy. As a matter of fact, why not engage with Lewis after he announced he was setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsports? It could have only have been a powerful statement to join forces with the only black driver in F1 to bolster the credibility of the #WeRaceAsOne campaign.
We have seen injustices that test our sensibility, including what happened to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and so many other countless people of color who have needlessly lost their lives being treated differently, seen as more of a threat because of the color of their skin.
This has prompted the only black driver in F1 to speak out about racism, especially after the killing of George Floyd when he said he was left feeling, in his words “so much anger, sadness and disbelief.” Like Lewis, for many, it was hard to process. Maybe unwise to some, this lead Mr. Hamilton down a path where he criticized F1 for staying silent on racism, and while the majority of the grid stayed silent, he did receive support from fellow drivers such as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Maclaren’s Daniel Ricciardo.
These issues might be too small to attract the attention of the all powerful FIA and its president, but people in marginalized communities live them every day, and I assure you, they don’t have the luxury of waiting for the approval of the FIA president or his ilk. Instead of banding together with your most marketable and successful driver, you have chosen to critique some of the causes he champions. For those of us who understand the urgency, we also understand why he does not have the luxury of waiting for the sport’s approval. Because while these injustices do not have the glaring spotlight of an F1 race, they occur in the very same countries that F1 races are hosted , and Lewis, given his formative years and his past experiences can relate, maybe more so than any drive on he grid.
As a matter of fact, Formula One’s 10-year deal to race in Qatar was met with some concern from Human Rights organizations including Amnesty International, who voiced concerns that wealthy nations were bidding for high profile sporting events to ‘rebrand’ as nations amid legitimate concerns over human rights abuses. So, the FIA is no stranger to some of the concerns and causes being highlighted by the reigning world champion.
Lewis being at the pinnacle of F1, recognizes that right now, he has a platform big enough to do a lot of good, and to bring awareness some of the social injustices plaguing people of color, so if not now, when, Mr. Todt? — As his collaborated poem says…..
“We’ve waited patiently to have this conversation” “We are no longer waiting”
Sir Lewis Hamilton’s greatness as a driver, with 7 World Drivers’ championship titles, 103 grand prix wins, 103 pole positions and 182 podium finishes in F1, is cemented in history and undeniable. He is now focused on his legacy well beyond what he does inside the car.
Given his background and the unique perspective only he can provide based on his past experiences, the FIA would do well to engage with him, understand what “Still I Rise” means, and maybe the FIA can collaborate rather than criticize. I encourage the readers of this piece to take some time to look at the Hamilton Commission and spend some time reading more into Mission 44. I suspect you will have a new found respect and appreciation for Mr. Hamilton and the causes he champions.
