Britain's most successful F1 driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he's been the target of racial abuse since he was eight years old, while continually being accused of "not being British enough." He said that children would throw objects at him when he was karting as a kid, and that 'fans' would taunt him in blackface at the beginning of his career.
The 35-year-old six-time world champion has said that British society is riddled with an "implicit bias" because too many people stay silent. Hamilton has opened up about his own experiences with racism following the response to the Black Lives Matter movement which has triggered protests across the globe.
The Monaco-based Brit said: "For me, and so many others around the world, seeing George Floyd’s murder triggered a sense of deep pain, anguish and frustration. As a nation, we’re quick to condemn monkey noises and bananas thrown at black footballers, but when it comes to addressing structural racial issues, the people in power stay silent. Injustice prevails when you remain neutral." Hamilton said that the injustice surrounding George Floyd's death in Minneapolis unleashed memories he thought he'd suppressed surrounding racism.
'Not British enough'
"I’ve been fighting the stigma of racism throughout my racing career - from kids throwing things at me while karting, to being taunted by fans in blackface at a 2007 grand prix, one of my first Formula One races." In his professional life, the 35-year-old claims that he's treated differently in the F1 community, and that "only one type of person is truly welcome in the sport, one who looks a certain way."
He added: "Even now, the media ask me different questions than they do my competitors and make accusations directly and indirectly - you’re not British enough, not humble enough, not loved enough by the public.” He also has revealed plans to set up a commission in his name to increase diversity in motorsports and wants to "channel my energy, influence and investment to create a more inclusive world."
Hamilton also believes that education will be the way forward to treating racial injustice: "Education is the leveller, the path to opportunity. Education on racism has to happen on several levels, and it has to happen now.”
