Black Power gesture on podium a moment that Hamilton 'will never forget'

General

17 July 2020 at 07:16
Last update 17 July 2020 at 08:49
  • GPblog.com

Lewis Hamilton was on the podium after his victory at the Styrian Grand Prix with a clenched fist in the air. Well, drivers often do that when winning a Grand Prix, but Hamilton's fist had a special meaning, not least for himself.

The fist in the air symbolises the Black Power movement that emerged in the United States in the 1960s. The gesture became known worldwide when two African-American athletes raised their fists in the air to the American national anthem at the 1968 Olympics.

Hamilton is inspired

These are events far ahead of his time, but a week later Hamilton lets Racefans.net, among others, know that they are inspiring images for him and wants to continue the fight against racism by following their example.

"I have this opportunity to continue to raise awareness and try and unite people, to try and educate myself but also educate other people and that was really where it came from. It felt like the right moment, it felt an important moment for me. I’ll never forget that moment.”