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FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 – 70th Anniversary Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain – August 9, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton kneels in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign on the grid before the race Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon/File Photo
Reuters
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 – 70th Anniversary Grand Prix – Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain – August 9, 2020 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton kneels in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign on the grid before the race Pool via REUTERS/Bryn Lennon/File Photo
Lewis Hamilton has often been the kind of driver that not only focuses on Formula One racing but also uses his tremendous fame to voice out for and against other social matters developing around the globe. The Briton, in fact, influenced Mercedes in bringing out the stellar-looking Black livery over the seasons 2020 and 2021.
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Following Mercedes’s affirmation arrived the sport’s decision to support the cause as well; by taking the knee minutes prior to the start of the main Grand Prix event. This has been the case for the past couple of seasons.
However, heading into the 2022 season, F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, acknowledged that the drivers will no longer be committing to the gesture ahead of the main race. Instead, he affirmed that F1 will be seeking other ways to lend their support to the cause.
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Formula One F1 – Dutch Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands – September 5, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton before the race Pool via REUTERS/Francisco Seco
Domenicali explained, “It now is the time to move on and take some other action.”
“The gesture was important for the ones that believed that was an important gesture because we need to respect everyone,” he told Sky Sports according to The Guardian. “But now is the time to move on and take some other action. The action is the focus on the diversity of our community, and this is the first step.”
Watch Story: From Prince to the Queen: When F1 Stars Interacted With the Royal Family
Exception for Lewis Hamilton in this F1 change?
Although F1 will no longer let their drivers kneel before the race, it looks like Hamilton might be an exception. The Briton will reportedly be allowed to kneel prior to the start of the race, possibly beside his own #44 challenger on the grid.
The gestures were indeed very strong until the end of 2021. However, going into 2022, not only have F1 taken back the kneeling rule, but Mercedes, too, is likely to revert to their classic Silver livery. The team, in the early 2010s, earned the epithet ‘Silver Arrows’, thanks to their extravagant-looking Silver color painted all around their car.
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MONTMELO, SPAIN – Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W10 during day three of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
But, having to support their star driver Hamilton’s battle against social causes, Mercedes had to bring about a black livery into play. Hence, now that they’ve caught everyone’s attention with the stunning and yet effective livery, it looks like the German outfit has begun hunting for other ways to make an impact on this social cause.
Read More: Why Do Mercedes Dominate F1?
