F1 Knee
Drivers will still be free, however, to take any gesture they want in their own time but it is no more a compulsion
Formula 1 is getting rid of the formal knee gesture ceremony before each Grand Prix this year, as it wants its ‘We Race as One’ campaign to focus more on positive action.
Since the start of the 2020 campaign, F1 has set aside a specific time during the pre-race build-up for drivers to take a knee or any other gesture they wish.
While F1 will continue broadcasting a #WRAO video before the race, and branding will remain at circuits, the regular ceremony at a set time has now been dropped.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky F1: “We have to not have to do politics. But I think now it’s a matter from gesture to action. Now the action is the focus on the diversity of our community. And this is the first step.”
“I think that the gesture has been already important for the ones that believed that it was an important gesture,” he said. “We need to respect everyone as always, but now is the time to move on and take some other action.” [via Sky F1]
Sky F1 reported that Lewis Hamilton, who has pushed hard for diversity, had been briefed on the plans.
Reflecting on Hamilton’s return to the public spotlight, having posted on social media at the weekend for the first time since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Domenicali reckoned that the Mercedes driver would be fired up for 2022.
“From what I know and what I see, I saw the last picture of Lewis with the right positivity in his face and his gesture,” he said.
“I think that is important because Lewis is an incredible asset, not only for our sport but for the world. And Lewis, he has in front of him a possibility to be, you know, for the eighth time, a world champion.“
Next season will be an interesting one with teams coming up with new strategies and designs.
McLaren’s improvement over the past three Formula 1 seasons is clear for all to see, despite a drop to fourth behind Ferrari in last year’s constructors’ standings.
But the crew at Woking know a true step to the top is still a work in progress, and the team is putting the infrastructure in place to get there.
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