“Ultimately it’s disgusting that minorities and people out there have to protest to get justice. And even when they do, justice is still not given,” says F1’s world champion; Hamilton says he will not boycott Sunday’s Belgian GP but stands united with athletes in the USA

2:47

Lewis Hamilton says he is ‘fully aligned’ with the American athletes who have boycotted sporting events in protest against racism

Lewis Hamilton has spoken passionately over feeling “inspired and proud” about the shows of solidarity from athletes in the United States against the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last week.

The F1 champion said that while he will not boycott Sunday’s Formula 1 Grand Prix in Belgium, he takes a “lot of inspiration” from the unprecedented player-led protests in American sports and that “I feel fully aligned with them” in the fight for social justice.

Three NBA play-off games, two Major League Baseball matches, three WNBA fixtures and five Major League Soccer games were postponed on Wednesday after player-led actions in response to the shooting of African-American Blake and the civil unrest that has followed.

Hamilton has been a leading voice in the Black Lives Matter movement in recent months, calling for greater diversity and opportunity both in motorsport and society at large.

“Ultimately it’s disgusting that minorities and people out there have to protest to get justice. And even when they do, justice is still not given,” he told Sky Sports when asked about the events in the USA.

“It’s such a mess over there but I’m really so inspired and proud of the other athletes out there that are utilising the platform they have, using their voice. We already started seeing it with Colin Kaepernick a long time ago – it’s like four years ago now – who lost his job for standing for what was right.

4:05

Craig Slater reports from Spa after speaking to Lewis Hamilton about the events in the United States

“There needs to be change and it’s going to take all of these great athletes and people coming together to really push and force for change, because it needs to be forced, because at the moment you’ve got the president sitting there not doing anything and you see Martin Luther King obviously was fighting for the same issues 60 years ago and gave his life up, and we’re still fighting it today.

“I just take a lot of inspiration from it and I feel fully aligned with them. My heart and thoughts and prayers go out to those continuously on a daily basis are losing their lives through racism.”

0:39

The New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers players held a moment of reflection and say they are fully behind the NBA’s protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin. 

Hamilton will race at Belgian GP

Speaking in the earlier drivers’ press conference at Spa, Hamilton said he would not be boycotting this weekend’s F1 event.

But F1’s six-time champion stressed that he would continue speaking to the sport’s officials about what more they can do to highlight the fight against racism. F1 is again expected to stage a formal ceremony ahead of Sunday’s race at Spa as part of its ongoing anti-racism messaging.

“It’s a shame that’s what’s 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 any effect,” said the Mercedes driver.

“We’re in Belgium, we’re not in the United States. I haven’t spoken to anyone about it but I am really proud with 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. But I will try to speak to Formula 1 to see what else we can do to continue to raise awareness. Naturally as a sport, I think we all need to be aligned, supportive of each other, even though it’s a different sport.”

Although a protest from F1’s drivers is not on the cards, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, a director of the Grands Prix Drivers’ Association of which all of the grid are members, believes F1 stars have grown closer in recent weeks by discussing wider matters than just what happens on the track.

“I think if so, it’s something we decide together,” Vettel said when asked if the drivers would consider a similar protest.

“Generally we talk about stuff, we talk about things that are going on and things that are important to us, and I think we have 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 are unhappy about something we talk about it first and then take actions accordingly.”