Although in the United States the acts of protest in the sport have gone a step beyond the simple claim since the Milwaukee Bucks did not appear to a game of the first round of playoffs against the Orlando Magic, the wave has not arrived in this occasion with such force to Europe. Lewis Hamilton, who has spearheaded the anti-racist movement in Europe in recent months, ruled out on Thursday the idea of mimicking the Bucks idea by boycotting the weekend's main sporting event, the Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Spa circuit. Francorchamps, in Belgium, after the brutal shooting from behind that left Jacob Blake in serious condition last Sunday in Kenosha (Wisconsin).
“First of all, I think it's incredible how much athletes are doing in the United States, in each of their specialties. Naturally, as a sport, we all need to be aligned, we all need to support each other, even if it's a different sport. And I'm with all of them, but that's in the United States, and I don't know if doing something like this here, in Belgium, would have any particular effect, "said the British rider, who will continue to kneel to the ground when the anthem sounds. from the organizing country, as he has done since the beginning of the season, when he also got most of the riders on the grid to accompany him in the gesture.
Hamilton, who seeks to equal the seven world titles of Michael Schumacher, assured that he will look for new formulas to continue promoting the fight against racism, but he will not stop driving. “I'm trying to do what I can from here. I really don't know how we could not participate in the race. The weekend will follow. But I will try to talk to Formula 1 to see what else we can do to continue creating awareness, to continue helping to push this path, "he warned.
The other drivers, without exception, took the same path as Hamilton and ruled out from the outset the option of not racing on Sunday. "I think it is not in anyone's plans, there has been no discussion with the drivers in those terms. I respect what is happening in the United States, I have seen the images of the last shooting against this poor person and I find it regrettable and incredible that this happens in the 21st century and these atrocities are committed and in a developed country. But at the moment I don't see the intention of boycotting a Formula 1 race, which has nothing to do with that, ”assured Carlos Sainz.
A line that, for the moment, the rest of European sport will follow. The players of Liverpool and Arsenal, who on Saturday must play the final of the Community Shield (17.00, DAZN) with which a new season of English football will start, have already announced that they will kneel before the start of the clash, which will later be will dispute normally.
