Ecclestone said in an interview with CNN Sport, among other things, that he had never feared racism in F1. Hamilton was the first dark-skinned Formula 1 rider to set up a commission to promote greater diversity in the sport. The 89-year-old Ecclestone praised Hamilton’s steps, but said, “it won’t do anything good or bad for Formula One.” Ecclestone added that “in many cases, black people are more racist than white people.”
Formula 1 issued a statement on Friday, in which it distanced itself from Eccleston’s words. Hamilton also commented on his Instagram.
“I am sad and disappointed to read such comments. Bernie is out of sport and the next generation, but that’s exactly the wrong thing: Unconscious and uneducated comments that show us how far we as a society are from achieving real equality, “Hamilton wrote.
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“It is now very clear to me that nothing has been said or done to make our sport more diverse or to address the racial issues I have encountered during my career. If someone who has led the sport for decades cannot understand the deep-rooted issues that we blacks deal with every day, how can we expect all the people who work under it to understand? It starts upstairs.
“Now is the time for a change. I will continue to strive to create an inclusive future for our sport with equal opportunities for all. Create a world that provides equal opportunities for minorities. I will continue to use my voice to represent those who do not have it and to speak for those who are under-represented to give me the opportunity to get a chance in our sport. “
Foto: Getty Images / Mark Thompson
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