In the streets of London, this first day of summer, in support of the anti-racist movement which is sweeping the world, a demonstrator brandishes a cardboard on which is written: "Black Lives Matter". He wears opaque sunglasses and a neon bandana hides his face. It is impossible to recognize except by deciphering his tattoos on his arms.
The man posts the image on his social networks which bring together more than 25 million subscribers: his name is Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton. He is a six-time Formula 1 world champion.
He should match Schumacher's record
In case of a new title at the end of this truncated season which begins this Sunday (2:15 pm on Canal +), he could equal the victory records (7) of Michael Schumacher and enter the legend of the sport: "Apart from his teammate at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas and the Covid which could still disrupt the championship, I don't see who could beat it this season "thinks Jacques Villeneuve, the consultant of Canal + and world champion in 1997.
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Went down to Hyde Park today for the peaceful protest and I was so proud to see in person so many people of all races and backgrounds supporting this movement. I was proud to be out there acknowledging and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and my black heritage. I was so happy to see people of all ages, sporting Black Lives Matter signs and saying it just as passionately as I was. I was also happy to see so many white supporters out there today in the name of equality for all. It was really moving. I'm feeling extremely positive that change will come, but we cannot stop now. Keep pushing. #blacklivesmatter ✊🏾 📸 @spinzbeatsinc
A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on Jun 21, 2020 at 11:58 am PDT
To identify the character Hamilton, you need to have a few figures in mind. Sacred in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019, he competed in 250 career Grands Prix, won 84 and managed 88 pole positions, a record there again. He is one of the few who trivialize the feat. This Sunday, it is still on the first line that he will start the Grand Prix of Spielberg in Austria. As usual. "Yes, he earns a lot. Some people may think they are making too much, but we said the same thing at the time of Prost or Schumacher, ”says Jacques Villeneuve.
To get back into the bath slowly before resuming: a little trip to Spielberg with our duo of commentators @Julien_FEBREAU and Jacques Villeneuve! 🚥🎙️ pic.twitter.com/GN0QmpH3yh
- CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) July 2, 2020In the list of the biggest, Hamilton has already surpassed Senna and his three world titles, Prost, Vettel (4) and even the legend Fangio (5). Only Schumacher (7) still dominates it, but not for much longer: “Too much has changed over time in this sport and we cannot compare eras. It's impossible to say whether or not he's the best driver ever. In addition to his obvious qualities at the wheel, the great strength of the Briton is to have always been in the right car at the right time with the best team possible. That too is a great talent, ”underlines Jacques Villeneuve.
He's rich, a little bling-bling and more than that
Hamilton is a monument. At 35, he is one of the greatest active champions. One of the richest too: Mercedes pays him 40 million dollars (37 million euros) per year and to stay at the end of the season, he demands that his salary go up to 44 million dollars. The German firm will give in.
In the paddocks, however, he was not unanimous: "Apart from those close to him," observes Jacques Villeneuve, "few people can say that they know him. He lives in his bubble, away from the others. Rather above the others with its own lifestyle which can seem bling-bling with its gold chains, its private jet which takes it where it wants when it wants. But he deserved it all. "A great music lover, vegan, active environmental activist, close friend of actor Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean), Hamilton, who accredits his dogs to accompany him on the circuits, does not say much. of his personal life.
Grandson of an emigrant from Granada
However, it is displayed. During the Covid crisis and since the death of George Floyd, the Englishman, hyper active on networks, proved to be an unexpected player in civil rights, against racism and police violence. A fight that comes to him from his childhood, he grandson of an emigrant from Grenada born in a poor suburb north of London. A man who remains the only colored driver in the history of F1.
Still WE Rise ✊🏾 #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/kj2cxElMZ0
- Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) July 2, 2020Behind the insolent success, the winning machine hides cracks: a cerebral palsy half-brother and he did not learn racism only in the books "I will always remember the challenges which I had to face when i was a child, racism or other discrimination, he says. I learned not to show weakness. I was bullied, beaten and the only way to fight it was to learn to defend myself. That's why I drive this way, it's much deeper than just playing sports, I'm always fighting. Thank goodness I had my father, a strong black figure whom I could admire, I knew that he understood and that he would be by my side no matter what. "
He trains all F 1 in his fight
In a few weeks, Hamilton denounced the supposed racism of the F 1, the absence of colored drivers, the silence of the "biggest stars" of this sport "dominated by the Whites": "In his fight, he takes all the F 1 who only talks about that, welcomes Jacques Villeneuve. This is proof of his power and his influence on this sport: when he says something, we follow him and we listen to him. "
🗨️ @LewisHamilton: "I'm very happy to see the response from my team and from F1" #WeRaceAsOne #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/uZ5wLJsQVX
- CANAL + F1® (@ CanalplusF1) July 2, 2020Newsletter - Essential news
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Because he asked, all the pilots had to kneel down this Sunday. Until the end of the season, Mercedes will race with F 1 painted in black and in Austria, the Englishman wears a black helmet too: "I had time to think of something other than F 1. We can use the audience of F 1 to get a message out to the world, to educate people. It is good that F 1 is finally more proactive in this area of the fight against racism. There are many opportunities in these motorsport trades but few are available to minorities. Thanks to him, it will change.