F1 | Vitaly Petrov criticizes Hamilton's stance on the BLM movement
Lewis Hamilton's position on the “Black Lives Matter” movement and the support of the black population was considered a bit excessive and “superfluous” by a former F1 driver.
Formula 1 faced a critical condition due to the coronavirus pandemic that explode at the begging of the 2020. Fortunately the motorsport managed the situation and the 2020 F1 season started on March 15th.
This season was also characterized by the activism of some drivers towards racism.
Lewis Hamilton leveraged his popularity within Formula 1 by promoting a positive change message towards the black population.
Recently, the Mercedes driver has been criticized for his actions regarding the “Black Lives Matter” movement. From the first race of the 2020 F1 season, Lewis showed up wearing a black shirt and the movement's namesake logo.
Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov, who had three years in F1 from 2010 to 2012, criticized Lewis Hamilton and the way he spread the message by kneeling before the start of each race.
During an interview with the Russian publication, Championat, Petrov said: “For me, a Black Lives Matter t-shirt is superfluous, as is calling on everyone to kneel,
“That is a personal matter for every adult.
“I don't understand the kneeling because, according to our traditions, a man kneels only in two cases - in a place of worship before God and when you propose to your future wife.
“You can speak out on your social networks, you can give interviews, you can create some kind of social movement, you can contact the government.
“But to call on that in Formula One itself… I think half of the spectators didn't even know what the shirt was about until it was explained to them.” Vitaly Petrov thinks that Hamilton’s move went too far.
“What if one of the drivers comes out as gay?
“Will they go out with a rainbow flag and urge everyone else to become gay or something?
“There are a lot of examples.
“I don't think the FIA will allow such actions to continue.” the Russian concluded.
Petrov also said that in Russia they don’t have any kind of problems with racism.
“In Russia, there is a different mentality,” he stated.
“We do not have the problem that Hamilton is talking about.
“There should be respect for every person.
“But I think that then everything needs to be thought out more globally, to create some kind of funds.”
Despite the opposition that he encountered, the Hamilton insisted he won't give up in his campaign for justice.
In fact the British driver wrote online: “It doesn’t matter if you stand or kneel, but we should be showing the world that F1 is united in its commitment to equality and inclusivity. F1 and the FIA need to do more.
“There is no quick fix for racial inequality, but it is certainly something that we can’t just acknowledge once and then move on. We have to stay focussed, keep highlighting the problem and hold those with the power accountable.”
