Lewis Hamilton - UK press suggest he might take a knee in USA

[JAA17]

The UK press is suggesting Lewis Hamilton might take a knee like the American Football players have during the USA national anthem.

Do you think this is a good thing or bad thing?

[Manoah2u]

I actually recall reading he WON'T do that at all

edit: indeed, he stated he respects these actions but won't be doing such a thing at all.

[JAA17]

Ah, that has changed then since I read the story early yesterday morning. Did he say why he has decided to do nothing now?

[NYGIANTS]

lewis is one of my favorite current drivers but its not his anthem, flag or country.

lets keep it about the racing.

[Just_a_fan]

Which UK press? The BBC was reporting yesterday that he wouldn't "take a knee". Sounds like certain UK media being their usual BS selves...

[TAG]

lewis is one of my favorite current drivers but its not his anthem, flag or country.

lets keep it about the racing.

In the US black males 18-34 have a nine times higher chance of being shot and killed by police than a white male the same age. Lewis spends quite a lot of time in the US and he's in the right demographics so yeah, he's nice time more likely to get shot by a cop while he's here too. Whatever he does or doesn't do is fine by me, his decision. The facts are the facts and everyone in this country should be aware of the issue and if they're uncomfortable about it, maybe demand change instead in the policing practices instead of the athlete's choice to protest.

[PlatinumZealot]

Smartly, he won't take the knee in Austin, there is just too much risk career wise. It would definitley go down in formula 1 history if he did though.

[George-Jung]

In the US black males 18-34 have a nine times higher chance of being shot and killed by police than a white male the same age.
..
The facts are the facts and everyone in this country should be aware of the issue and if they're uncomfortable about it, maybe demand change instead in the policing practices instead of the athlete's choice to protest.

Facts...

“According to a 2013 study conducted by the Pew Research Center, black men were six times as likely as white men to be incarcerated in 2010”

“According to the US Department of Justice, African Americans accounted for 52.5% of all homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with whites 45.3% and "Other" 2.2%. The offending rate for African Americans was almost 8 times higher than whites, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of white victims killed by whites, and 93% of African Americans victims were killed by African Americans.”

“In 2013, number and percentage of murder arrests by race were:

Black or African Americans 4,379 = 52.2%
White Americans (including Hispanic Americans) 3,799 = 45.3%”


Lets not make this a F1 problem- it is not about race, it is about racing.

[adrianjordan]

Which UK press? The BBC was reporting yesterday that he wouldn't "take a knee". Sounds like certain UK media being their usual BS selves...

Yeah, I think I saw a Daily Fail article claiming he would.

[Greg Locock]

This article? Says no such thing http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formul ... -Prix.html

[basti313]

lewis is one of my favorite current drivers but its not his anthem, flag or country.

lets keep it about the racing.

That is the point. Most Americans do not take it well if their loved NFL stars "offend" their anthem. And most really see this as an offence. It is no surprise, that Kaepernick has no contract anymore.
They will not take it well and surely not as a good sign, none of them, if a foreigner does the same.

[Manoah2u]

lol @ the one-sided 'facts' pulled together after some whites did their white investigation and gave it to white people that posted 'their' conclusions as 'facts'.

Apart from that Lewis is not in that 'danger group' as he's RICH, LOADED and a CELEBRITY. he won't risk getting shot because he will never fall in the category that is in those risks and that category is found in 'hoods' and 'projects' and above all Lewis' riches will keep him from being anywhere near those environments and also his profile, behaviour, etc. won't fit because of his riches and statuses.

it makes no sense for lewis to take a knee since he is not American, simple as that. He's british, he has zero compatibility with those groups because of that. These issues are NOT going on it Great Britain, and he has never been nor had to worry about problems like that. He's a privilidged 'black' man, with a white mother and black father from Great Britain who has never had to worry about food or his neighbourhood, and was had a racing career in karts from childhood and befriended white richkids like Rosberg.

He would turn himself instantly to be the laughing stock, it would create gigantic backlash, and would gain nothing, only lose.

And above all though, that all isn't even of the question because he has not thought of such a thing himself nor concidered it, it was the press who threw that ball in the air and he was not interested in any 'bs' outside of the title fight and the race which he is focusing upon.

[Greg Locock]

Nice thread on 'fake news'.

[Unc1eM0nty]

NFL teams are rather different to F1 constructor teams, especially one who's biggest market is the US, I think Mercedes will have made their position very clear.

[Cannonballer]

lewis is one of my favorite current drivers but its not his anthem, flag or country.

lets keep it about the racing.

In the US black males 18-34 have a nine times higher chance of being shot and killed by police than a white male the same age. Lewis spends quite a lot of time in the US and he's in the right demographics so yeah, he's nice time more likely to get shot by a cop while he's here too. Whatever he does or doesn't do is fine by me, his decision. The facts are the facts and everyone in this country should be aware of the issue and if they're uncomfortable about it, maybe demand change instead in the policing practices instead of the athlete's choice to protest.

Well said! It is sad that a gesture intended to be respectful, the equivalent of flying a flag at half mast, has been portrayed the way it has.