Motor racing’s governing body, the FIA, is looking into whether Lewis Hamilton broke rules at the Tuscan Grand Prix by wearing a t-shirt protesting the death of Breonna Taylor.
On Monday an FIA spokesperson told the BBC it is a non-political organisation and the matter is « under active consideration ».
Taylor, a Black woman, was fatally shot March 13 when police officers burst into her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. She was 26.
Ahead of Sunday’s F1 race at Mugello, Hamilton wore a shirt which said: « arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor » on the front and « say her name » alongside her picture on the back. He wore the shirt to the podium after winning the race.
To conclude his post-race TV interview after stepping out of his car, he said: « Justice for Breonna Taylor ».
Mercedes responded to criticism Hamilton had been bringing politics into sport on its social media channels.
One reply from the world champions said: « We’re not bringing politics into F1, these are human rights issues that we are trying to highlight and raise awareness of. There’s a big difference. »
Until Mugello, Hamilton had worn a shirt saying « Black Lives Matter » at F1’s ‘end racism’ demonstration, held before every race. F1 allows its drivers to show their commitment to the anti-racism message in however they see fit in that segment of time ahead of the event.
Hamilton explained why he wore the shirt after the race.
« I’ve been wanting to bring awareness to the fact there are people being killed on the street. » Hamilton said. « And someone was killed in her own house and they were in the wrong house and those guys are still walking free. »
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/29885269/fia-looking-hamilton-breonna-taylor-shirt-protest
