TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2020 14 Hamilton calls for better anti-racism focus and unity in F1

AFP | Spielberg

ewis Hamilton has called on and his Lfellow drivers to stay fo- cused on the sport’s anti-racism stance and present a less chaot- ic image before next Sunday’s . The six-time world champion said after winning Sunday’s Sty- rian Grand Prix that a number of drivers wanted to stop the pre- race anti-racism gestures and that he feels some teams are not doing enough to show solidarity with the movement. “The drivers spoke after the drivers’ briefing this weekend about what we intended to do Mercedes’ British driver steers his car during the Styrian GP and some were asking ‘Why do we have to continue to do this?’,” “I’ve made it clear I’m not sup- he said. “Some felt like once was porting the political side, I’m enough last week. supporting the human rights “I just had to encourage them I just had to encourage side,” he said. “I’ve said ‘Guys, that racism is here, going to be them that racism is I’m going to do it. There were here and probably be here longer here, going to be here some that said ‘Well, I already than our time here… and peo- and probably be here did it last week… I’m not doing ple of colour, who are subject to it again’. racism, don’t have time to take a longer than our time “And there were some that moment to protest and that be it. here… and people of continued to have the same ap- colour, who are subject “We’ve really got to think, as Lewis Hamilton on the podium after his victory at the Styrian Grand Prix proach they had to the first week a sport, what we can do because to racism, don’t have and that’s why I tried to spend a those are nice signs, but passion they took that decision. At both “F1 has come forward and going to do in the future. time to take a moment bit more one-on-one time with a is needed.” races, all of the drivers wore the said they are supporting ending “We have to continue to push to protest and that be few of those that had chosen to Despite Hamilton’s efforts, sport’s “End Racism” t-shirts racism and it is amazing to see for equality and raise awareness. it stand, just to have a chat. at least four drivers remained alongside Hamilton whose shirt Mercedes is also doing that, but For me, personally, it is going to “From the drivers’ point of standing while others took a carried the “Black Lives Matter” no other team has done a single be a lifelong thing.” LEWIS HAMILTON view, we are going to come clos- knee and several appeared to message. thing,” said Hamilton. er during this period of time. be absent when they appeared Hamilton’s Mercedes team all “The Red Bull mechanics have ‘At some stage we will be by the BLM campaign, not the I’m not saying that everyone is together at the front of the grid took a knee in the pit-lane and on taken a knee, but if you look at together’ political activity. going to be taking a knee, but before Sunday’s race. the grid behind the drivers, but Ferrari they have thousands of Hamilton, who lifted a Speaking to reporters via a over time, as we begin to talk The previous week, before the gesture was not unanimously people working for them, but I clenched fist to mark his victory post-race video news confer- about this more often, I’d like to the season-opening Austrian supported by all involved as it have heard no word of Ferrari at the , also made ence, Hamilton also said he had think that at some stage we will Grand Prix, 14 took a knee and has been in many other major saying that they hold themselves clear that he was supporting the spent time explaining the issues all be together, understanding six stood, all explaining why sports. accountable and what they are social justice cause represented to other drivers individually. taking a knee.”

Tendulkar slams loopholes We should all worry about Racing Point’s pace, says Red Bull boss in umpire referral system Reuters | London ed Bull chief Christian Reuters | Mumbai RHorner said “everyone” should be concerned about the atting great Sachin Ten- pace of Racing Point this sea- Bdulkar has renewed de- son after Renault protested the mands for cricket rules to give legality of their car on Sunday. greater weight to TV playbacks Renault lodged a formal pro- over umpires in making LBW test in the aftermath of Lewis decisions. Hamilton’s victory in the Styr- Tendulkar, a long-standing ian Grand Prix, a race that saw critic of the decision review Sergio Perez storm from 17th on system (DRS), returned to the the grid to sixth in his Racing fray after multiple LBW calls Point. in the West Indies’ victory over The Renault protest claims England in the first Test. that Racing Point has breached If a ball-tracking playback Formula One’s rules by build- shows that less than 50 per- ing a car that is not original in cent of a ball would hit the design of specific ‘Listed Parts’. stumps then the umpire has Sachin Tendulkar during the Bushfire The race stewards deemed the discretion to reject a Cricket Bash T20 match (file photo) leg-before-wicket appeal. If an umpire rules a batsman “The only reason they (the not out and the fielding side batsman or the bowler) have calls for a review, 50 per cent gone upstairs is because they of the ball must be hitting the are unhappy with the on-field Racing Point’s Mexican driver Sergio Perez steers his car in front of Racing Point’s Canadian driver Lance Stroll stumps for the third umpire to decision,” said Tendulkar. KNOW WHAT overturn the on-field call. “So when the decision goes the protest to be admissible of age to the racing Point, Perez Mercedes team. They finished Tendulkar feels this is unfair to the third umpire, let the and the sport’s ruling body, the was three or four-tenths quick- seventh in last year’s construc- and wants the International technology take over; just like Racing Point are International Motoring Fed- er. So, that was very impressive tors’ championship, but are in Cricket Council to rethink the in tennis -- it’s either in or out, powered by Mercedes eration (FIA), impounded Rac- pace that they showed.” a period of evolution after new system. there’s nothing in between.” engines and their base ing Point’s front and rear brake Perez team-mate Lance Stroll owner Lawrence Stroll took “One thing I don’t agree Former India off-spinner at Silverstone is close ducts and requested Mercedes came home seventh and said he over in 2018. with, with the ICC, is the DRS Harbhajan Singh backed Ten- provide them with the same felt his team had the ‘second Similarities between the they’ve been using for quite dulkar’s position, saying on to the Mercedes team. parts from its 2019 car. quickest car’ in the race. Racing Point and last year’s some time,” Tendulkar said in Twitter it was “1,000 percent They finished seventh in Red Bull team boss Horner “We had debatably the second Mercedes grabbed attention an online conversation with correct”. last year’s constructors’ said: “I think everybody should quickest car, maybe third, but during pre-season testing and West Indies legend Brian Lara. India was the last Test na- championship, but are be worried by the Racing Point. we were definitely quicker than the team has not shied from The former India captain tion to embrace DRS, in 2016. It in a period of evolution Perez was quicker than (Valt- Renault, McLaren and a lot of conceding they took inspira- said the playback should was rumoured that Tendulkar after new owner teri) Bottas’ Mercedes at one other competitors.” tion from it. trump the umpire no matter had led opposition to the tech- point of the race. Racing Point are powered The said they studied the car how much of the ball would nology until his retirement in Lawrence Stroll took “And, bearing in mind that by Mercedes engines and their in detail from photographs, but hit the wickets. 2013. over in 2018 Bottas tyres were within one lap base at Silverstone is close to the did nothing that was illegal.