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By Reuters 
11h ago
By Alan Baldwin
LONDON – Formula One’s governing body is considering whether Lewis Hamilton broke any rules by wearing a “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” jersey before and after Sunday’s Grand Prix of Tuscany.
“We are actively considering this issue,” said a spokesman for the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
He added that the discussion was also about how to proceed in the future.
Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was killed by police officers who broke into her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment in March.
An involved police officer was fired by the city police department in June. Two other officers have been assigned to administrative reassignment. No criminal charges have been brought against any of the three.
Hamilton has regularly worn a ‘Black Lives Matter’ jersey when he knelt in an officially approved anti-racism protest before the start of races this season.
Sunday’s jersey was different than that, with a picture of Taylor on the back and ‘Say his name’. Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka recently wore a mask with Taylor’s name at the US Open.
Hamilton said Sunday that Osaka had been “an incredible inspiration.”
The race stewards did not open any investigation into Hamilton’s actions at the Italian Mugello circuit.
In any case, it was not immediately obvious which statute Hamilton might have broken.
The apolitical FIA is working with the Briton, the only black Formula One driver, on a diversity commission and has promoted a campaign against racism.
The sports code prohibits teams from using “political or religious” advertising, but does not mention drivers.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also made it clear that he had no problem with whatever Hamilton chose to wear.
“It is entirely his decision. Whatever he does, we will support him,” the Austrian told reporters last Saturday.
“The team is fighting any type of racism and discrimination and it is Lewis’s personal fight for Black Lives Matter and with all the support we can give him.
“The much broader movement is obviously the fight against any kind of racism and discrimination, and we as a team and as a company have always placed emphasis on fighting against that injustice.”
Reuters
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