AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Lewis Hamilton Fights Racism in F1: The Decision Behind His Move to Ferrari in 2025 Season

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 2, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Lewis Hamilton Confident in Ferrari Switch: A New Chapter in F1 History Begins

Formula One F1 - F1 75 Live Season Launch - The O2, London, Britain - February 18, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton during the launch REUTERS/Andrew Boyers EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver in Formula 1, recently opened up about his apprehensions surrounding his transition to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season. The celebrated driver expressed concerns about potential racial abuse in Italy, given the country’s problematic history with racism in sports.

Hamilton, aged 40, is no stranger to racial discrimination. He has endured multiple instances of racial abuse in his illustrious career, starting from his debut season in 2008. Spanish fans, donning blackface, self-proclaimed themselves as “Hamilton’s Family” and subjected him to racial slurs. His infamous rivalry with Fernando Alonso and more recently with Max Verstappen in the 2021 season have also been marred by racial undertones.

Following a collision at the British Grand Prix in 2021, the ensuing racial hatred was so intense that Mercedes, the FIA, and F1 were compelled to release joint statements condemning the abuse. The insistence of Red Bull on accountability reflects the gravity of the situation.

Hamilton’s proposed move to Ferrari, though unprecedented, is fraught with potential risks, primarily the fear of racial abuse recurring in Italy. However, Hamilton remains steadfast. He acknowledged his fears but affirmed that he would not let a small group of individuals dictate his career moves or his life.

Racism in Italian sports, particularly football, has been a contentious issue. Black athletes, both native and foreign, have been victims of racial abuse. Notable incidents include AC Milan’s Mike Maignan confronting racial slurs in January 2024, and Romelu Lukaku being pelted with bananas during a match. Even Mario Balotelli, who led Italy to the 2012 European Championships final, threatened to abandon a game following racial abuse from Hellas Verona fans.

The issue of racism extends beyond the players on the field. In 2019, Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci, a white player, controversially blamed Moise Kean, a black player, for the racial abuse he received from Cagliari fans. Bonucci’s comments, though defended by his manager, drew widespread criticism, including from high-profile international stars like Raheem Sterling.

Hamilton has been a vocal advocate against racism since 2008. His anti-racism stance gained momentum in 2020, following the Black Lives Matter movement. The murder of George Floyd by law enforcement officials in the United States served as a rallying point for his crusade against racism.

Mercedes, under the leadership of Toto Wolff, supported Hamilton’s cause, even incorporating black into their car livery. Hamilton encouraged his colleagues to kneel in support of Black Lives Matter and made a strong statement by wearing a shirt calling for justice for Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed by police.

Despite facing a potential investigation by the FIA for his political statements, Hamilton continued his fight against racism. He launched Mission 44, a global initiative aimed at combating social injustice by focusing on education, employment, and empowerment. Furthermore, he spearheaded the Hamilton Commission, which seeks to understand the underrepresentation of black people in motorsport and STEM fields.

Hamilton’s personal experiences with racism have fuelled his fight for change. He hopes to create an inclusive future in motorsport, where no one has to endure the racial discrimination he faced. His move to Ferrari is a testament to his courage and determination, setting a powerful example for others.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Lando Norris Triumphs Over Oscar Piastri in Epic 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Battle
Motorsports

Lando Norris Triumphs Over Oscar Piastri in Epic 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Battle

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 29, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris...

by Harry Stone
June 29, 2025
Ryan Blaney Plunges into Atlanta Chaos, Team Penske’s Fate Hangs in Balance
Motorsports

Ryan Blaney Plunges into Atlanta Chaos, Team Penske’s Fate Hangs in Balance

Ryan Blaney's Atlanta Nightmare: Team Penske Suffers Catastrophic Fallout in High-Stakes Showdown In a heart-wrenching turn of events at the...

by Simon Monroy
June 29, 2025
Lando Norris duels Oscar Piastri in Thrilling McLaren Battle at Austrian Grand Prix
Motorsports

Lando Norris duels Oscar Piastri in Thrilling McLaren Battle at Austrian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 29, 2025 McLaren's Lando Norris...

by Miguel Cunha
June 29, 2025
Ott Tänak’s Heart-Pounding Triumph: Battling Gearbox Woes for Acropolis Victory!
Motorsports

Ott Tänak’s Heart-Pounding Triumph: Battling Gearbox Woes for Acropolis Victory!

Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool

by David Castro
June 29, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News

Lando Norris Triumphs Over Oscar Piastri in Epic 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Battle

Lando Norris Triumphs Over Oscar Piastri in Epic 2025 Austrian Grand Prix Battle

June 29, 2025
Ryan Blaney Plunges into Atlanta Chaos, Team Penske’s Fate Hangs in Balance

Ryan Blaney Plunges into Atlanta Chaos, Team Penske’s Fate Hangs in Balance

June 29, 2025
Lando Norris duels Oscar Piastri in Thrilling McLaren Battle at Austrian Grand Prix

Lando Norris duels Oscar Piastri in Thrilling McLaren Battle at Austrian Grand Prix

June 29, 2025
Ott Tänak’s Heart-Pounding Triumph: Battling Gearbox Woes for Acropolis Victory!

Ott Tänak’s Heart-Pounding Triumph: Battling Gearbox Woes for Acropolis Victory!

June 29, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.