Pique apologized to Hamilton, but denied that his comment had any racial intent and questioned the way it was translated. Hamilton appeared at the FIA press conference on Thursday ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, speaking publicly for the first time on the subject and thanking him for his support. “I accept racism and criticism, and this negativity and archaic narratives for a very, very long time, and tons of discrimination,” Hamilton said. “So there is nothing particularly new about me. I think it is more about the bigger picture. “I do not really know why we continue to give a platform to these older voices. Because they talk about our sport and we want to go somewhere completely different and it is not representative of what we are as a sport now and what we intend to go. “We are trying to grow in the US and other countries, in South Africa, and we have to look to the future and give young people a platform that is more representative of today and that we are trying to be in the direction we are going. “It’s not just about one person, it’s not just about one use of that term. It’s the bigger picture.” Photographers and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG Photo: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images Both the FIA and F1 issued statements condemning Pique’s comments, a stance that was echoed by many groups in solidarity with Hamilton. However, Hamilton said the “knee-jerk reaction” to the condemnation of racism “was not enough”, adding: “This is a real action now. We have to start acting. “It’s just going back to F1, in the media, we don’t have to give these people a platform. These old voices, whether subconscious or conscious, do not agree that people like me should be in a sport like this, or that women should be here. “Discrimination is not something we have to promote and promote and provide a platform to create and divide people. “In the last two weeks, I do not think a day has passed that someone who has not been involved in our sport for decades is trying to say negative things and start knocking me down. “But I’m still here and I’m still strong.” Read also: Since the last race in Canada, Hamilton has also faced criticism from Sir Jackie Stewart, who questioned whether the Mercedes driver should continue in the series, and from Bernie Ecclestone, a former F1 ringmaster. Hamilton stressed the need for accountability from teams and companies in F1 to “take a stand” and focus on inclusion in the future, taking action through plans to improve diversity in the series. “It’s great to be on the grid and talk about participating,” Hamilton said. “But they are just empty words, if we do not act. “This is a growing business. Teams are making more money than they have ever made before, and they will continue to grow that way. I do not know all the other funds that have been made available to D&I. [diversity and inclusion]. I will be willing to bet that it is not as much as we have already put and plan to put. “I have called all the F1 teams that have agreed to be part of this F1 charter and have not yet signed and are not yet in progress. “We can no longer amplify these voices that are just creating the gap out there.”
