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How F1's united anti-racism message will be voiced on Sunday at Silverstone

Published on 01 Aug 2020 21:21
2
By: Fergal Walsh

The FIA has outlined how its pre-race stance against racism will take place on Sunday at Silverstone.

The sport has received criticism in recent weeks for its brief and messy ceremonies of unity before the start of races, leading six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to say that more must be done.

Hamilton recently revealed that he had held a long phone call with Romain Grosjean, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, over how things can be improved going forward.

“Ultimately it was quite informative for both of us and we learnt that the fact is, we have more in common than we perhaps think,” Hamilton said of Grosjean.

“He’s clearly a caring person, so to hear that he said that – it's not easy firstly for anybody to admit that we're wrong, and that’s a great first step.

“But the fact is, when we got off the phone, I knew that we were united and we're going to be working towards the same common goal.”

Hamilton also talked with FIA president Jean Todt and F1 CEO Chase Carey on the matter.

Not all drivers have opted to take the knee during the ceremonies, and F1 has outlined that drivers can display an anti-racism message however they wish on Sunday.

At 13:52:30 local time, each driver wearing their black coloured ‘end racism’ t-shirts will walk to the carpet runner, with the ‘end racism’ banner placed across the width of the track, and stand by their name card.

During this time a VT of driver pledges will be playing on the international feed. At 13:53 local time, the worldwide feed will cut to the drivers in position, where it is suggested that they take part in one of the following gestures;

- taking the knee
- standing on carpet with arms crossed in front or behind them
- standing on carpet and bow head
- standing on carpet and pointing to the words ‘end racism’ on their t-shirts
- standing on carpet and place their hand on the heart
- anything else a driver may feel comfortable to do

After 30 seconds, this ceremony will finish and be followed by the national anthem of the United Kingdom.

Following the anthem, all personnel on the grid can then take part in a minutes applause as part of a thank you gesture to the front-line workers of the National Health Service amid the coronavirus pandemic.

All procedures will end 12 minutes before the start of the formation lap.

F1 News

Replies (2)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
It's much better with an agenda. I'm sure some will still be offended that it's not enough, but at least it's pretty clear what's expected
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- Aug 2 2020 - 00:56
Kokoro

Posts: 15
I'm genuinely unclear as to who the drivers are kneeling down / bowing their head's before? ..... Is it in remembrance of George Floyd? Or with regard to the Black Lives Matter shirts they've been wearing, are they taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter protesters, or will they be bowing their heads before and in honour of ALL black people only, or does it include racism towards yellow, brown and red peoples also?

....... and, in respect of F1, are the drivers seeking measures to ensure racial equality of opportunity within the sport, or are they advocating for equal outcome in terms of equal racial representation on the grid?
- + 0
- Aug 2 2020 - 12:46