Austria's Anti-Racism Gesture: Taking The Knee

The topic of whether or not to take the knee has divided athletes and sports fans across the world. In Formula One, ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in 2020, 14 of the 20 drivers took a knee, while six remained standing. The gesture was intended as a stance against racism, with all 20 drivers wearing t-shirts featuring the message End Racism. Lewis Hamilton, Formula One's only Black driver, wore a t-shirt with the message Black Lives Matter. The six drivers who did not take a knee, including Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, emphasised their commitment to the fight against racism but said they should be free to express themselves in their own way. In football, Austria's David Alaba said his team would take the knee before their Euro 2020 game against Italy at Wembley Stadium, while Italy's players were undecided.

Austrian Grand Prix drivers' stance on taking the knee

Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix in July 2020, the issue of taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement divided Formula One drivers. While 14 of the 20 drivers took a knee, six did not, including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Leclerc and Verstappen were the first to state their position, with both emphasising their commitment to the fight against racism but explaining that they would not be taking a knee. Leclerc said that taking the knee "could be seen as controversial in some countries", while Verstappen said: "I believe everyone has the right to express themselves at a time and in a way that suits them."

The other drivers who chose not to kneel were Antonio Giovinazzi, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz and Kimi Raikkonen. Kvyat explained his decision, saying: "I am really against racism and we as a group of drivers decided that a very strong message would be wearing the T-shirts stating 'End Racism'. I think that kind of message was very strong and it got delivered to everyone."

All 20 drivers wore T-shirts with the message 'End Racism', while Lewis Hamilton's T-shirt also included 'Black Lives Matter'. Hamilton, F1's only black driver, said he was grateful to those who knelt with him, but added: "Ultimately whether you do or do not kneel, that's not going to change the world. It's a much, much bigger issue."

Lewis Hamilton's views on taking the knee

Lewis Hamilton has been an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, taking a knee as a demonstration against racism and inequality before races and wearing t-shirts in support of BLM. He has also been vocal about tackling racial injustice and promoting greater diversity in Formula One.

Hamilton has said that he will continue to take the knee because it sparks an uncomfortable conversation about racism and forces people to educate themselves. He believes that when children see him take the knee, they will ask their parents or teachers why, and this will lead to important discussions about race.

Hamilton has also acknowledged that taking the knee is not always comfortable for everyone and that people should not feel forced to do it. He understands that some people see it as a controversial gesture and respects their right to choose how to express themselves. Ultimately, he believes that the fight against racism is a much bigger issue than taking a knee.

At the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton was the only driver with "Black Lives Matter" on his shirt, while the others wore shirts saying "End Racism". He was joined by 14 other drivers in taking a knee before the race, while six drivers, including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, chose to remain standing.

Max Verstappen's views on taking the knee

Max Verstappen, the No. 1 driver at Red Bull, has been vocal about his decision not to take the knee during the F1 pre-race ceremonies. Verstappen stated that he is "very committed to equality and the fight against racism" but believes that "everyone has the right to express themselves at a time and in a way that suits them". He emphasised that his choice not to kneel does not mean he is less committed to the cause, and that he respects the personal choices of other drivers who do decide to take a knee.

Verstappen's stance has been met with mixed reactions, with some people criticising his decision and accusing him of not caring about racism. However, others have supported his right to choose how to express himself and have argued that taking a knee is primarily an American gesture that may not be understood or seen as meaningful in other cultures. There have also been suggestions that the gesture could be perceived as controversial or political in certain countries.

Some commentators have noted that the act of taking a knee is not universally understood as a symbol of protest against racism outside of the United States. In the Netherlands, where Verstappen is from, there has been significant support for his decision, with many feeling that taking a knee would be seen as a performative or disingenuous gesture if not accompanied by other actions to address racism.

Verstappen's decision has sparked a broader discussion about the global impact and understanding of American cultural movements, with some arguing that the US is "pushing their culture and ways onto other countries". Others have countered that racism is a global issue and that taking a knee has been adopted internationally as a gesture of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, particularly in sports.

Ultimately, the decision to take a knee or not has sparked a dialogue about the different ways people choose to express their support for the fight against racism and the complexities of addressing cultural differences in a global context.

Charles Leclerc's views on taking the knee

Charles Leclerc, along with Max Verstappen, has been one of the most prominent Formula 1 drivers to opt out of taking the knee before races. Leclerc has been clear that his decision is not a reflection of his lack of support for the Black Lives Matter movement or the fight against racism. Instead, he has cited the potential controversy of the gesture in some countries and the association of some protests with violence as his reasons for not taking part.

Leclerc has emphasised that he is "against racism" and supports Formula 1's efforts to promote equality and combat racism. He stated that he believes "facts and behaviours in [one's] daily life" are more important than "formal gestures". Leclerc also expressed his discomfort with politicians using protests for their own purposes.

The Ferrari driver has faced criticism for his stance, with some accusing him of being racist. He has responded to these accusations by stating that he is "not racist" and finds racism "disgusting". Leclerc has also expressed frustration with being judged for his decision, stating that he simply wants to express his feelings and support for the cause in his own way.

Leclerc's decision not to take the knee highlights the differing approaches to showing support for anti-racism efforts, with some drivers opting for alternative gestures, such as wearing "End Racism" t-shirts, during the Austrian Grand Prix.

Other F1 drivers' views on taking the knee

While 14 drivers took the knee before the Austrian Grand Prix, six did not. Those who chose not to take the knee cited various reasons for their decision, but all emphasised their commitment to the fight against racism.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen were the first two drivers to state their position, with Leclerc explaining that taking the knee could be seen as controversial in some countries. He added that he felt facts and behaviours in daily life were more important than formal gestures, and that his decision not to take the knee did not mean he was less committed to the fight against racism. Verstappen expressed a similar sentiment, stating that he felt everyone had the right to express themselves in their own way and that he was committed to equality.

Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen, who also chose not to take the knee, said that the drivers were against racism but were entitled to make their own choices about how to express their support for the cause. Daniil Kvyat, another driver who opted not to take the knee, explained that the gesture of going down on one knee went against his mentality and culture, as it was something that was only done in front of God or one's country's flag. However, he emphasised his support for the "End Racism" message on the T-shirts worn by all the drivers.

Other drivers who chose not to take the knee included Carlos Sainz and Antonio Giovinazzi. Meanwhile, drivers such as Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon, and Lance Stroll expressed their support for taking the knee as a way to show solidarity and send a powerful message against racism.

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