FIA eye Hamilton anti-racism shirt gesture

Formula One’s governing body is considering whether Lewis Hamilton broke any rules in wearing a T-shirt with “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” on it before and after the Tuscan Grand Prix.

“We are giving this issue active consideration,” said a spokesman for the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA).

He added that the discussion was also about how to proceed in future.

Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, was killed by US police officers who burst into her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.

One police officer involved was fired by the city’s police department in June.

Two other officers have been placed on administrative reassignment.

No criminal charges have been filed against any of the three.

Hamilton has regularly worn a “Black Lives Matter” T-shirt when kneeling on one knee in an officially-sanctioned anti-racism protest before the start of races this season.

Sunday’s shirt was a departure from that, with a photograph of Taylor on the back and “Say her name”.

Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka recently wore a face mask with Taylor’s name at the US Open.

Hamilton said on Sunday that Osaka had been “an incredible inspiration”.

Race stewards did not open any investigation into Hamilton’s actions at Italy’s Mugello circuit.

It was not immediately obvious in any case what statute Hamilton might have broken.

The FIA, which maintains a non-political stance, is working with the Briton, Formula One’s only black driver, on a diversity commission and has promoted an anti-racism campaign.

The sporting code bars teams from using “political or religious” advertising but does not mention the drivers.

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