Hamilton hams it up....

[john-e89]

Mr Hamilton has said he ‘stands with’ US sports stars that are boycotting events all over the US this weekend but doesn’t think him boycotting a GP will have any effect over in the US.

Sooooooo one of the highest profile sportsmen on the planet that lives predominantly in the US and spends most of his free time over there, attends this that and the other high profile fashion events, music stuff etc, has been very vocal on BLM suddenly doesn’t think he can make any difference. I’m confused.... :scratchhead: I would have thought someone of his profile would be the perfect person to raise awareness of the movement, beit right or wrong, not the opposite no....??

I guess a 7th world championship is more important than BLM after all eh..... :wink: :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Beating Schumacher Matters

 

[Z4C_er]

I was speaking to my son about him just the other day. I don't know anyone that actually likes the guy. Most acknowledge the fact that he's extremely talented and a fantastic driver, but everyone I've ever spoken to about him thinks he's a tool.
Anyone here like him?

 

[buzyg]

Would peeing off millions of F1 fans out side the USA, be a positive move? He is a positive role model for BLM doing what he does world wide. His personnel team seem to make sound choices on such matters. But no one can get it right every time.

 

[buzyg]

I was speaking to my son about him just the other day. I don't know anyone that actually likes the guy. Most acknowledge the fact that he's extremely talented and a fantastic driver, but everyone I've ever spoken to about him thinks he's a tool.
Anyone here like him?

Why does that matter? I don't dislike him he's just some one trying to make the most of his time on this fine planet, like the rest of us. :?

 

[Z4C_er]

I was speaking to my son about him just the other day. I don't know anyone that actually likes the guy. Most acknowledge the fact that he's extremely talented and a fantastic driver, but everyone I've ever spoken to about him thinks he's a tool.
Anyone here like him?

Why does that matter? I don't dislike him he's just some one trying to make the most of his time on this fine planet, like the rest of us. :?

I think it matters. How can you be a positive role model if you most people don't like you?

 

[brillomaster]

I think Hamilton is doing plenty for the BLM movement already, he's lead the demonstration at every grand prix so far. And i agree, i dont think boycotting an event thats happening outside of US soil, in a sport that most americans don't follow, will achieve that much. If it was the US GP, or he was racing any of NASCAR, Indycar or IMSA on US soil, then a boycott would be far more effective.

 

[inkey$]

I think it matters. How can you be a positive role model if you most people don't like you?

Sorry, how exactly were you measuring that statement again?

 

[john-e89]

Just think of the publicity he’d create if he did boycott a race though, I’d think huge numbers of Americans know who he is wether they follow sport or not.

 

[IRD]

I admire his achievements but like others I find him difficult to like. I suspect his decision not to boycott is more to do with what is best for him and smacks of hypocrisy. :roll:

 

[MrPT]

I think it’d have an impact. Most Americans know who he is, even if the sport remains a distant 3rd to NASCAR and Indy in terms of popularity. It would probably also do a tiny bit to help raise European awareness of historical black oppression in the US.

Whether it’d be enough to balance out the effect on his team, many of will have done the usual all-nighters and weeks/weekends away from their families, I don’t know. Maybe the best thing to do would be for him to discuss a potential boycott with them and Toto first and then make the call (perhaps he’s done this already).

 

[jabber]

I think the problem is as with the take a knee these boycotts they are a great gesture but I fear not achieve any concrete change, that has to start at the top and with the current US president I can’t see that happening. Im in my 60s and it seems not much has changed in the US over the last 40 yrs

 

[brillomaster]

there are other things that would be effective... all the drivers could agree that on the final lap, they race until the bridge just before the braking zone into the bus stop chicane. Then everyone slows to a crawl through the bus stop, and crosses the line in order, but at barely walking speed. Do a slow speed, processional finish.

Or, if hamilton is so far ahead of everyone else by the finish, he should perform a stop-go on the track just before crossing the line.

Or, even better, everybody stops on the grid before the finish line, so nobody actually wins the race. Would probably be the only time in nearly 1000 races that nobody actually takes the chequered flag.

 

[Z4C_er]

I think it matters. How can you be a positive role model if you most people don't like you?

Sorry, how exactly were you measuring that statement again?

I guess as I mentioned earlier, that I don't know of anyone that actually looks up to the guy. And I work in automotive, so a lot of colleagues are into F1. Opinions of him range from indifference to absolute hatred.
So, I struggle to see how someone who is thought of with such indifference making an impact on people. Who will take notice of him and follow his example?

 

[john-e89]

He’s jumped on the Floyd BLM bandwagon, got the team to change car and overalls colour, get some drivers to take the knee, talks a lot about how passionate he is about the whole thing but is not prepared to give up a race and 30 potential points for the cause. Surely if just one persons opinion is changed by him doing so it’s been worth it no..? Doesn’t seem to be to him obviously. It’s nothing more than his latest toy to pick up and drop when he’s bored of it like he’s done with the environment issue, I quote, “Sometimes I feel like giving up and that nobody cares”, that’s all died a death as he continued to earn 100’s of millions from one of the worlds most damaging sports in terms of pollution. He doesn’t care enough about that either to do anything about it as far as I know, certainly flying to the Isle ofMann in his private jet to exploit a tax loophole is more important than the fuel he’s burning on such exploits.

The guy is transparent, personally I can’t give any credibility to someone like that, not that my opinion means anything of course, and tbh I’ll be glad when he’s retired and maybe we can have racing without all these shallow meaningless words taking up airtime from people that are genuine and not so deeply self absorbed.

 

[Jollyjoiner]

All life matters

THE END

 

[inkey$]

I think it matters. How can you be a positive role model if you most people don't like you?

Sorry, how exactly were you measuring that statement again?

I guess as I mentioned earlier, that I don't know of anyone that actually looks up to the guy. And I work in automotive, so a lot of colleagues are into F1. Opinions of him range from indifference to absolute hatred.
So, I struggle to see how someone who is thought of with such indifference making an impact on people. Who will take notice of him and follow his example?

Maybe people outside of Automotive/F1?

 

[Angelus666]

F1 is so utterly dull now.....what do people even watch it for, to see which one of the two mercedes cars wins the race? Where is the sport and the point of that.... :?

 

[Z4C_er]

Sorry, how exactly were you measuring that statement again?

I guess as I mentioned earlier, that I don't know of anyone that actually looks up to the guy. And I work in automotive, so a lot of colleagues are into F1. Opinions of him range from indifference to absolute hatred.
So, I struggle to see how someone who is thought of with such indifference making an impact on people. Who will take notice of him and follow his example?

Maybe people outside of Automotive/F1?

OK, but if they are outside the sphere, then who is Hamilton to them anyway? For example I don't follow American football at all, and if there was someone there who was doing something extraordinary, I doubt I would be on the lookout for it or even know who they are talking about.

 

[inkey$]

I guess as I mentioned earlier, that I don't know of anyone that actually looks up to the guy. And I work in automotive, so a lot of colleagues are into F1. Opinions of him range from indifference to absolute hatred.
So, I struggle to see how someone who is thought of with such indifference making an impact on people. Who will take notice of him and follow his example?

Maybe people outside of Automotive/F1?

OK, but if they are outside the sphere, then who is Hamilton to them anyway? For example I don't follow American football at all, and if there was someone there who was doing something extraordinary, I doubt I would be on the lookout for it or even know who they are talking about.

I genuinely get the sentiment. It’s just he has quite a large following; many of which I’m sure are fans. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram alone it’s at 30 million plus.