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Lewis Hamilton has said his priority this year is making a significant difference to improving diversity in Formula One, rather than chasing a record-breaking eighth championship, and echoed the Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha’s recent comments that it is more important to have “uncomfortable conversations” rather than gestures such as taking the knee.
Hamilton led the way in F1 last year to focusing attention on fighting racism. He was angry and strident after the killing of George Floyd and instigated the anti-racism gesture F1 adopted on the grid before races. All drivers participated and the majority took the knee throughout the season but Hamilton is now in broad agreement with Zaha’s recent statements that gestures are no longer sufficient.
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