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F1 tipped to stop Hamilton podium activism

"This t-shirt, on top of calling for everyone to kneel, was too much"

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F1 will have clamped down on drivers making overtly political statements on the podium, according to former driver Vitaly Petrov.

The Russian was referring to Mugello, where Lewis Hamilton wore a t-shirt calling on American police accused of shooting a woman during a raid to be arrested.

Six-time world champion Hamilton has been wearing a ’Black Lives Matter’ t-shirt on the grid all season to date, but that may be interpreted as a statement rather than an endorsement of the controversial political movement.

Mugello was the first time he took an overtly political statement onto the podium and post-race interviews.

"For me, this t-shirt, on top of calling for everyone to kneel, was too much," Petrov told Championat.

"It is a personal matter for every adult. You have the right to speak out on social media or give interviews, but I think the US government is well aware of these problems already.

"But to call on that in Formula 1 itself ... I think half of the spectators didn’t even know what the shirt was about until it was explained to them," he added.

"And let’s say a driver admits to being gay - will they come out with a rainbow flag and urge everyone to become gay as well? I think the FIA will no longer allow such behaviours," said Petrov.

Petrov also said Russians - including Daniil Kvyat - do not kneel for any reason except "before God and to propose to your future wife".

"In Russia we have a different mentality, and we do not have the problems that Hamilton is talking about. There should be respect for everyone," he said.

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