[ad_1]
Formula 1 bosses will not investigate Lewis Hamilton’s decision to wear a jersey highlighting police brutality at Sunday’s Tuscany Grand Prix.
The FIA’s governing body was considering whether the matter contravened its rules, but a spokesperson told BBC Sport that an investigation had been ruled out.
However, the FIA will seek to clarify its guidelines as to what is allowed for drivers before the race and on the podium.
Hamilton’s shirt read: “Arrest the Cops Who Killed Breonna Taylor.”
Taylor was a black woman who was shot eight times in her home in Louisville, Kentucky, by US police in March.
The shirt, which the Mercedes driver wore during the pre-race anti-racism demonstration and on the podium, also read: “Say his name.”
The FIA was taken by surprise by Hamilton’s actions: he had previously worn a shirt that read “Black Lives Matter”, while those of all the other drivers said “End Racism”.
He had been considering whether Hamilton had violated article 1.2 of the FIA statutes, which reads: “The FIA will refrain from discrimination on the grounds of race, skin color, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, language, religion. , philosophical or political opinion, family situation or disability in the development of their activities and any action in this regard “.
The FIA is also a signatory to the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any “type of political, religious or racial manifestation or propaganda”.
Taylor was one of several victims of incidents related to police violence in the United States whose names have become war cries for equality and justice.
Hamilton said after winning the race on Sunday: “I wanted to raise awareness about the fact that there are dead people on the street.
“And someone was murdered in their own house and they were in the wrong house and those guys are still walking free.”
F1 and the FIA have mounted a campaign against racism and diversity this year, including anti-racism demonstrations before each race.
Hamilton has been at the center of the demonstrations, as the sport’s most prominent figure and its only black driver.
His stance has been endorsed by his Mercedes team, which painted their cars black this year to represent their support for anti-racism and diversity.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said on Saturday that Hamilton had the full support of the organization in his desire to highlight racial injustice and that it was up to him which jerseys he wanted to wear to demonstrate it.
“There’s no question, it’s totally his decision,” Wolff said. “We will do what he does, we will support him. The team is fighting any form of racism and discrimination and it is Lewis’ personal fight for Black Lives Matter and with all the support we can give him. It is his decision.”
Wolff added: “Black Lives Matter is something that is important to all of us and we have supported Lewis at all times.”
“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 put emphasis on fighting against that injustice.”
