Despite earlier reports, the FIA will not open an investigation into the t-shirt that Lewis Hamilton wore on Sunday (Sept. 13), which demanded justice for Breonna Taylor. According to reports, the FIA — F1’s governing body — will review its guidelines about drivers’ attire during pre- and post-race activities rather than launch an investigation.
Hamilton wore the shirt — which read “Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor” — during the pre-race “end racism” observance at Sunday’s Tuscan Grand Prix race and during his post-race interviews. The shirt also featured a picture of Taylor and the phrase, “Say her name.”
“It took me a long time to get that shirt and I’ve been wanting to wear that and bring awareness to the fact that there’s people that have been killed on the street and there’s someone that got killed in her own house,” Hamilton told reporters after wining the race. “We have to continue to raise awareness. … I think we just have to continue to push on the issue.”
Hamilton, who is Formula One’s first and only Black world champion, has previously worn “Black Lives Matter” t-shirts during pre-race “end racism” observances. On Sunday, he took a knee on the racetrack.
“It’s been 6 months since Breonna Taylor was murdered by policemen, in her own home,” he added on Twitter. “Still no justice has been served. We won’t stay silent.”
Reports about the alleged investigation surfaced on Monday (Sept. 14) after an FIA spokesperson said Hamilton’s shirt was “under active consideration.” The FIA considers itself a non-political organization and has rules against drivers making political statements during racing events. However, as reported by the BBC, the FIA will now instead “seek to clarify its guidelines as to what is permitted for drivers pre-race and on the podium” rather than investigate the incident or fine Hamilton.
See photos of Hamilton’s shirt on Twitter below.