Lewis Hamilton gets Sebastian Vettel backing after calling out Romain Grosjean, F1 chiefs
Lewis Hamilton has been backed up by long-time rival Sebastian Vettel after he criticised Romain Grosjean and F1 on Sunday.
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Lewis Hamilton has received support from Sebastian Vettel after being left unimpressed by F1's stand against racism at last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton once again led the way in taking a knee prior to the national anthem being played in Hungary.
Some of his fellow drivers joined him in making the symbolic gesture, which is now synonymous with supporting the fight against racism and discrimination.
However, there was not a united front at the Hungaroring, with a portion of Hamilton's rivals choosing to stand, while others missed the moment entirely.
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The rushed nature of the display angered Hamilton, who criticised Haas driver and Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) director Romain Grosjean post-race.
The Mercedes driver accused Grosjean of believing taking a knee once - at the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix - was enough and said he had not brought it up in the pre-race drivers' meeting.
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Hamilton also criticised F1 chiefs, who he said ought to do more to provide a platform after launching their own We Race As One initiative.
Ferrari driver Vettel who, like Grosjean, is a director of the GPDA has come out in support of long-time rival Hamilton, who said he will take action to remedy the situation ahead of future races.
"What you see is what the situation is," Vettel said. "[There] was very, very little time, everything was a bit rushed. I think drivers were just about to arrive.
"[There was time] to do whatever every driver individually decided to do, but in the end, they were starting [the national anthem].
"I think going forward, it's probably true that we need to talk amongst ourselves a bit better, so hopefully we can sort it out."
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Hamilton called out Grosjean and F1 bosses during a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1 in the Hungaroring paddock.
And he also pointed the finger at Grosjean in the press conference following his eighth career victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"We are all members of the GPDA and the GPDA is run by three people - two [Vettel and Alexander Wurz] who are really supportive, and one [Grosjean] who tends to think it is not important to continue with," Hamilton said.
"I don't think it's being taken seriously. There are perhaps people who have not grown up around racism so don't understand it and because of that it doesn't affect them.
"I have heard people say: 'it doesn't do anything for me so why should I do it?' But it's not about me and you, it's about this fight for the people out there who are experiencing discrimination."
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