Jul.17 (GMM) Two Formula 1 legends have questioned Lewis Hamilton’s recent racial activism.
At each race so far in 2020, the Mercedes driver has led a line of his colleagues in kneeling in support of the Black Lives Matter political movement, and on the podium last Sunday he even showed a ‘Black Power’ fist.
“I have great respect for Lewis, but he was always accepted and respected by the whole world,” 1978 world champion Mario Andretti told El Mercurio.
“I think the point of this campaign is pretentious. I am sorry that it seems to be creating a problem that does not exist,” he added.
Andretti also questioned the way Mercedes has painted its 2020 car black in support of the fight against racism.
“I don’t know what that will do,” said the 80-year-old.
“I have met drivers of all different origins and races and I have always welcomed them with open arms. In motorsports, no matter your colour, you must earn your place with results and that is the same for everyone,” Andretti added.
“I wish politics was not mixed with sport. There is a time and a place to voice your opinions but what happened in Nascar with Bubba Wallace turned into something bigger than it should be.
“It was disproportionate and without reason, but that’s what happens when you think about politics before anything else.”
Another world champion and F1 legend, triple title winner Sir Jackie Stewart, agrees that the racism problem is “not as big” as Hamilton is making it out to be.
“He’s quite vocal about these elements, but I don’t think there’s as big a problem as there might seem,” he told Good Morning Britain.
“There is no resistance for change if someone is clever and good at what they do. They will be accepted in Formula 1,” said Stewart.
Sir Jackie Stewart and Mario Andretti have entirely missed the pointt of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes Benz’s action in calling attention to the refusal on the part of Great Britain and the United States, of France and Italy, of Portugal and Spain’s refusal to address their use of racism as an excuse for their profiting from slavery and colonialism. The blatently hyocritical notion that they were bringing the benefits of “civilization” and “Christianity” to people they considered “savage” and “ignorant” and and that their IMMENSE PROFITS had little or nothing to do with their endorsement of slavery and colnialism which caused the deaths of millions. It’s no surprise that, after the Nazi mistake, Germans of conscience have accepted their ancestor’s error and support efforts to prevent its return. This is not a matter of “politics”. It’s a matter of refusing to pretend any longer that the past can be ignored and people and cultures can ontinue to enjoy the fruits of their ancestor’s theft and inhumanity. America can never be “great” (and Britain should drop “great” from their name} until they acknowledge and teach the terrible gap between their stated values and they actual conduct. I am an honorably discharged U.S. Marine and I have lived in the West, the Midwest and the South of the U.S. –and never found a community as decent, as honest or as devoted to higher principles than the Marine Corps. It isn’t perfect, but it rejects bullshit from it’s officer corps as well as the men. We find bigots and we deal with them. We don’t practice racism or hypocrisy, not because they’re “wrong” or “immoral” or “illegal”; we do it because they are stupid and cost lives. When chaos comes, as it inevitably does, nothing can manage it but teamwork and “individualism” has no place in battle.