Outrageous racists shouting that Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr. heard in the league match against Valencia also greatly influenced Lewis Hamilton. “It brings back memories of my own experience of being discriminated against,” the seven-time world champion told a news conference in Monaco.

“It’s terrible to think that in 2023 we are still seeing and hearing these things,” said the Mercedes Formula 1 team driver. Lewis Hamilton: “I’m so moved by this, it evokes emotion about the things I’ve been through, whether it was in England or when I raced in Italy, France or Spain. What people say can be very hurtful. I think Vinícius Jr. is very brave and keeps himself big and strong.”

Lewis Hamilton himself was racially abused last year by former racing driver Nelson Piquet. The latter later received a fine of nine tons for this.

Black Lives Matter

Hamilton spoke up more often when he was hit. He also did this, for example around the riots that occurred in 2020 in the United States and later around the world due to the death of George Floyd at the hands of an agent. At the time, she wrote an emotional speech on Instagram in the context of Black Lives Matter: “I am overcome by the brutal lack of respect for the lives of our people. The injustice that our brothers and sisters around the world experience time and time again. It’s disgusting and it has to stop,” Hamilton said at the time.

Lewis Hamilton argued again in Monaco that more attention was needed to fight racism effectively. He himself previously described his own experiences with racism in schools. Hamilton: “There is no room for discrimination in today’s society. Sport needs to do more, we all need to continue to do more. If we see or hear it, we have to do something about it.”