Leclerc Twitter statement
Discussion
Smollet said:
He’s gone up immeasurably in my estimation with this statement. Gestures are meaningless as they tend to get exploited as has been seen of late. I think it should be down to the individual and not a blanket corporate issue. It would be nice if Lewis were to say as such if he hasn’t already. LeClerc not taking a knee will hopefully embolden those who weren’t comfortable with it but are probably too wary of how the media could rip into them if they didn’t comply with the mind games.
Looked to me like several were not taking the knee. Which is nice, I hope their actions speak louder about their desire to stamp out racism. Simple words and gestures mean little as you say, what matters is what you do.LukeBrown66 said:
My opinion here on this issue
Simply put: People of colour are not that interested in F1 or motorsport in general in comparison to soccer, NFL, athletics, basketball, etc etc.
Attend a big meeting like Goodwood, I would imagine you see a fairly low percentage of non whites at these events.
Regarding engineering I think it is true there are not enough black engineers or mechanics, I work in manufacturing and the spread is far more than you see in F1.
Is this also cultural, are black people not interested in motorsport engineering? I would say they are, but not in as greater numbers.
What I do think people like Lewis are pushing for is what has happened in other industry like public services, and that will be the creation of a demographic in teams, and that is a dangerous precedent.
It's the same as sexism in the workplace or representation on boards etc. Positions should be earned ONLY on skill, not on any other aspect, and sadly when these causes come in and take effect that can often lead to miscued recruitment. And that is not fair on the team or the people recruited that way.
I dont think it's about education, it is simply cultural, people of colour are just not as interested in this sport in its many guises as white people are. No amount of educaiton can change that.
Mercedes have said they're going to research why they seem not to attract BAME and female applicants. They've also said they want to hire the very best people from the widest possible pool - so still hiring the best.Simply put: People of colour are not that interested in F1 or motorsport in general in comparison to soccer, NFL, athletics, basketball, etc etc.
Attend a big meeting like Goodwood, I would imagine you see a fairly low percentage of non whites at these events.
Regarding engineering I think it is true there are not enough black engineers or mechanics, I work in manufacturing and the spread is far more than you see in F1.
Is this also cultural, are black people not interested in motorsport engineering? I would say they are, but not in as greater numbers.
What I do think people like Lewis are pushing for is what has happened in other industry like public services, and that will be the creation of a demographic in teams, and that is a dangerous precedent.
It's the same as sexism in the workplace or representation on boards etc. Positions should be earned ONLY on skill, not on any other aspect, and sadly when these causes come in and take effect that can often lead to miscued recruitment. And that is not fair on the team or the people recruited that way.
I dont think it's about education, it is simply cultural, people of colour are just not as interested in this sport in its many guises as white people are. No amount of educaiton can change that.
Similar statement from Verstappen
"I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes #WeRaceAsOne #EndRacism"
Both seem a fair and sensible response. Personally, I think that as soon as something becomes mandatory (like the footballers all taking a knee), it greatly devalues it.
"I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes #WeRaceAsOne #EndRacism"
Both seem a fair and sensible response. Personally, I think that as soon as something becomes mandatory (like the footballers all taking a knee), it greatly devalues it.
rscott said:
Similar statement from Verstappen
"I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes #WeRaceAsOne #EndRacism"
Both seem a fair and sensible response. Personally, I think that as soon as something becomes mandatory (like the footballers all taking a knee), it greatly devalues it.
Perhaps as there are far more ethnic minorities in football and they don't tend to have millionaire parents they just have a better grasp of the issues than the average F1 driver does."I am very committed to equality and the fight against racism. But I believe everyone has the right to express themself at a time and in a way that suits them. I will not take the knee today but respect and support the personal choices every driver makes #WeRaceAsOne #EndRacism"
Both seem a fair and sensible response. Personally, I think that as soon as something becomes mandatory (like the footballers all taking a knee), it greatly devalues it.
It seems to me that Hamilton is trying to dominate the other drivers by stating that they are part of the problem if they don't comply with his idea of how to show your rejection of racism. It's only natural that other Alpha males will reject his call to take the knee as a matter of course-totally regardless of their personal stance on the matter.
kambites said:
TwentyFive said:
I just don't believe sport and politics should mix.
Like it or not, sport and politics always mix. Always have done and always will do. Same with F1, Don't start alienating fans by letting some of them imply (or even state) that unless you have metaphorical bleeding knees from the amount of kneeling you've been doing then you are the problem.
Kraken said:
Politics affects every person every day. You can't just say that one part of life has nothing to do with it. If more people took an interest in politics rather than being ostriches then the world would be a much better place.
Oh please no! Already we have every celebrity/musician whoever preaching their opinion from their platform when they are paid to entertain. Please don't tell me that I must now expect the till operator at Sainsburys to give me a 5 minute lecture on BLM, Trump and Brexit now too ? :-)I can’t help but think ‘money’ and the entry costs of motorsport are more of a hinderance to anyone, irrespective of the colour of ones skin.
I would likely think if a dog was quicker in an f1 car someone somewhere would try and get it in the car for mere performance stakes
Also strikes me at a time when we are all more conscious of racism - commentators constantly saying “thai-British album” “ the Dutch” wtf does it matter? They aren’t driving for their national teams? Or do they do it intentionally to show how multi cultural it is? I think it comes across as the opposite - referencing something that really doesn’t / and shouldn’t make a difference
I don’t know what I’m supposed to think anymore ??
I like Hamilton - but the timing with this strikes me as well managed. He’s not like kapernic - taking real risk with his career, rather just coasted on a wave of world wide sentiment.
Some of the hyperbolic films linking him with Ali etc is laughable. I wish he would take a few more risks with what he feels rather than coming across so stage managed, he would be far more authentic.
I would likely think if a dog was quicker in an f1 car someone somewhere would try and get it in the car for mere performance stakes
Also strikes me at a time when we are all more conscious of racism - commentators constantly saying “thai-British album” “ the Dutch” wtf does it matter? They aren’t driving for their national teams? Or do they do it intentionally to show how multi cultural it is? I think it comes across as the opposite - referencing something that really doesn’t / and shouldn’t make a difference
I don’t know what I’m supposed to think anymore ??
I like Hamilton - but the timing with this strikes me as well managed. He’s not like kapernic - taking real risk with his career, rather just coasted on a wave of world wide sentiment.
Some of the hyperbolic films linking him with Ali etc is laughable. I wish he would take a few more risks with what he feels rather than coming across so stage managed, he would be far more authentic.
rscott said:
Mercedes have said they're going to research why they seem not to attract BAME and female applicants. They've also said they want to hire the very best people from the widest possible pool - so still hiring the best.
They also acknowledge that it’s not a problem that’s going to get fixed next week or next year, which is good to hear. It’s easy to make a few ‘token’ hires, but in F1 they only want the best of the best. The reason there was one black man and one woman (Sophia Floersch in F3) competing in the whole event in Austria is because there’s also little diversity much lower down the motorsport ladder.
The best thing Lewis can do is start funding young black kids to go Karting - he’s seen first hand how difficult it is to get around in the early years, and many kids find it easier and cheaper to get into say football at a young age - assuming they don’t get distracted by gang culture, which is a big problem in inner cities often not acknowledged. It’s not massively expensive either, £100k would fund half a dozen kids in national Karting championships for a year.
There’s been a drive to get more women into F1 over the past few years, and we definitely see a few female engineers and mechanics now, not just in marketing and catering roles - but that’s the result of concerted efforts in schools, colleges and universities to get women involved in technology and mechanical subjects. A similar effort is required if they want to see ethnic minorities in 2030s F1.
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