BEVERLY HILLS, October 25, (THEWILL) – Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who on Sunday became Formula One’s record all-time race winner with a dominant 92nd career victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix, added his voice to the #ENDSARS Movement ahead of his feat.
Showing keen awareness of the issues, the champion appeared to shrug off concerns of existing rules set out by the sport’s governing body about promoting messages on T-shirts and other clothing apparels.
Nigerians, at home and around the world, have been demonstrating for weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which they and rights groups have for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders.
Hamilton donned the T-shirt protesting that violence and supporting the cause of the protesters for a pre-race television interview at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday.
“I’ve got to show this,” Hamilton, the only Black driver on the course, told Sky Sports as he revealed a green T-shirt with #EndSARS written on it at the end of the off-grid interview.
In a Twitter post, he shared an image of himself with the T-Shirt and this message:
“We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and raise awareness of the tragedies happening in the world around us and take action where we can. The recent events in Nigeria are a human rights crisis. Hit the link to find out more #EndSARS
The Brit reverted to his usual ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirt for the officially-sanctioned pre-race anti-racism gesture on the starting grid.
Last month, Formula One’s governing body set out new pre- and post-race rules for driver attire after the record-breaker wore a T-shirt on the Tuscan Grand Prix grid with the words “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” in front.
The late Taylor, a Black medical worker, was killed by police officers who burst into her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.
We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and raise awareness of the tragedies happening in the world around us and take action where we can. The recent events in Nigeria are a human rights crisis.
Hit the link to find out more #EndSARS ?? https://t.co/AtCcDo6dFn pic.twitter.com/VDGK3Cp1c7— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 25, 2020
“Lots of rules have been written for me over the years and that hasn’t stopped me,” Hamilton said when the new rules were announced.
After growing up watching Michael Schumacher’s triumphs on television, Lewis Hamilton now stands above him and alone in Formula One history with 92 victories. And with good time to extend his record further.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
