Why some F1 drivers may not take a knee at Austrian GP

Some Formula 1 drivers may opt against taking a knee on the grid prior to Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, despite saying they are united in the anti-racism message the sport is promoting.

Drivers have discussed how to show support for the Black Lives Movement in the build up to this weekend’s race in Austria, with the act of taking a knee - as seen ahead of Premier League kick-offs in England - among the actions being considered.

All 20 drivers are planning to make a collective public stance against racism and will wear and display T-shirts with the slogan: “End Racism”, although some are not comfortable with the kneeling gesture.

A statement issued by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) on Saturday said drivers would have “the freedom to show their support for ending racism in their own way and will be free to choose how to do this ahead of the race start on Sunday.”

After qualifying, six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has championed the sport’s push against racial inequality and discrimination as F1’s only black driver, said he remained undecided on what he would do on the grid before the race.

"Honestly I don't have any plans at the moment. I've not thought that far forward,” he replied when asked if he was planning to take a knee.

Hamilton described the drivers’ briefing on Friday as “interesting” and said that some drivers’ reluctance to take a knee before the Austrian GP highlighted a lack of understanding of racism.

"We spoke a bit in the drivers' briefing,” Hamilton said. “Yep. Interesting. But it was good that we're kind of all at least in discussion.

"I don't know what we'll see. I think potentially people paying their respects in their own ways.”

However, the Briton did acknowledged those who have already shown their support via social media.

"In the meeting I just acknowledged a lot of the drivers, that there was an interpretation of a message that I posted asking for people to speak out and their silence, just saying thank you for those who have said something on their social media platforms,” he added.

"They've got a great voice, a great platform, and [I was] then encouraging the others that haven't to say something. I just described the scenario that silence is generally complicit.

"There still is some silence in some cases, but I think it's also part of a dialogue of people trying to understand. Because I think there are still people that don't fully understand what's happening and what are the reasons for these protests.

"I continue to try and be that guider, try to influence as many people as I can with it.”

The GPDA statement made it clear the individual wishes of each driver would be respected, meaning there would not necessarily be a single approach taken with the show of support.

GPDA director Romain Grosjean confirmed that “some are not keen to take the knee”.

"The chat yesterday with the drivers was essentially just ... all of us are 100% on board with supporting it and ending racism, none of us are anti this [idea]," he explained. "We all support that.

"I think there was some difficulty with some drivers and their nationality and what something like taking a knee would represent.

“The reasons why we will do is purely to support Black Lives Matter, it's got nothing political or anything else, but there is a little bit of a fine line with some drivers and their nationalities and how it is perceived.”

I believe that what matters are facts and behaviours in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries. I will not take the knee but this does not mean at all that I am less committed than others in the fight against racism.

— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) July 5, 2020

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo insisted no driver would be “put in jeopardy, judged or criticised” for not showing support in a single way.

"We heard all of them, we heard everyone's opinion," Ricciardo said. "We're not going to try and put anyone in jeopardy, and we'll do what we feel comfortable with.

"No one is going to be judged or criticised if they don't stand there in a certain way or take a knee. The intention is for us to support it, and we'll probably show that as a unit and then if a few of us choose to do something extra then that will be the case.”

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen confirmed he would be among those to take a knee on the grid but explained it would not be for one particular movement, but rather against racism as a whole.

"I think it's something that there's been a lot of talk about and it's a difficult one because there's always going to be people who interpret it in different ways," he said.

"I am going to take a knee but not because I'm supporting the BLM organisation, I'm just supporting the whole movement that the whole world seems to be coming together for ending racism. That's what I'm for, and that's what I'm trying to show tomorrow by kneeling.

"I hope that the kneeling part isn't owned or whatever by one particular group or organisation, I hope people will see it as a symbol of support for the whole movement that is going on at the moment for ending racism and discrimination."

On Sunday morning ahead of the race, FIA president Jean Todt announced motorsport's governing body will donate €1,000,000 from its Innovation Fund to contribute towards helping to increase diversity in motorsport, following F1's own push.