Formula 1 may not be known for their civil rights achievements or stances on political issues, but many drivers boast histories of activism and protest. Icons like Sebasttian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are particularly well known for their involvement in movements like Black Lives Matter; in 2020, Hamilton and several other drivers took a stance against discrimination, donning “End Racism” t-shirts and taking a knee during the National Anthem. These actions kicked off a wave of activism from the FIA (the governing body of Formula 1), and in recent years, they gained a new partner through the group, “Racing Pride.”
Across the motorsport industry, Racing Pride helps teams, races, and sponsors demonstrate their allyship with the LGBTQ+ community. Within Formula 1, the group has sponsored areas specifically for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, utilizing their “we race as one” slogan from 2020 onward.
There has been a marked uptick in the amount of demonstrations within F1 since 2020, especially during the first ever race in Qatar, an openly homophobic country with laws that make same-sex intercourse punishable by 7 years in prison, which took place in 2021. At this race, Lewis Hamilton donned a rainbow flag on his helmet, with a message saying, “We stand together.” Going on to win the race, Hamilton sent a message loud and clear that he will not condone homophobic actions within F1 or host countries, and that he hopes other drivers will stand with him.
Unfortunately, the seven-time world champion faced severe backlash for his actions from the FIA, with a new addendum being passed in 2023 requiring drivers to acquire prior written permission from the FIA before making “political, religious, and personal statements” while on the track. This ruling was incredibly reminiscent of FIFA’s decision to potentially yellow-card any soccer players wearing “one love” armbands in the 2022 season, and was very disappointing.
Clearly, while Formula 1 and their governing body of the FIA have begun to take steps in the right direction of inclusivity and tolerance, they still have a long way to go. With drivers like Lewis Hamilton remaining active in the industry, however, we can hope that F1 will continue to trend toward pride.