By David Awopetu
Formula 1 World champion, Lewis Hamilton, “stands with” US sports stars boycotting events to fight racism but does not think his missing a race would have an effect.
Major sports such as Basketball, baseball and football games have been postponed in the US after police shot a black man, Jacob Blake, seven times in the back on Sunday.
Hamilton said: “It’s a shame that is what’s needed over there to get a reaction. But that is in America and I don’t know really if me doing anything here will particularly have any effect.”
Former World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, said drivers’ pre-race anti-racism protests would continue.
Hamilton, F1’s only black driver, said in the build-up to this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix: “It’s incredible what many out there in the States are doing within their sports, all the way down to the people who are hosting.
“So many people are standing with the players and really pushing for change.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone about it but I am really proud of so many out there and I do stand unified with them.
“I don’t really know how us not doing the race is a thing. But I will try and speak to F1 to see what else we can do to continue to raise awareness and help push.
“And as a sport we all need to be aligned and supporting one another, even though it is a different sport.”
Hamilton has been at the forefront of F1’s support for anti-racism and diversity this year, which has led to demonstrations by the drivers and the sport before every race.
Vettel, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said all 20 F1 drivers were united in their desire to keep pressing the message home.
He said “We sent a strong message after the first event and our feeling was very clear that we wanted to continue sending that message.”
“It is one of those things that does not go away overnight.
“How long will we continue? There is no answer to that. It is important to keep sending the message and that’s what we will continue to do.”
The Ferrari driver added: “We know it is does not change things overnight and it is only a very small contribution, but hopefully, everyone who tunes in and sees it gets the point and takes a little bit of that for the next steps he is facing in life.
“Because one thing is to take action in public but more importantly is how everyone is acting and confronting it once the cameras are off. That is true for us and it is true for everyone else.”
