Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Leclerc hits out at accusations of racism over refusal to kneel

by Ryan Wood
5 years ago
A A
Leclerc hits out at accusations of racism over refusal to kneel

Drivers on the grid with the End Racism pledge. British Grand Prix, Sunday 2nd August 2020. Silverstone, England.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has hit out at suggestions he is racist or doesn’t care about the drive for equality because he has refused to take a knee before races this season.

Leclerc is one of a handful of drivers who have not knelt before races, choosing to instead stand whilst wearing an ‘End Racism’ t-shirt.

The 22-year-old insists he fully supports the campaign but has some misgivings about the Black Lives Matter movement because it has led to violent protests, particularly in the US.

But those comments have been twisted by some to suggest he doesn’t support the movement or is racist himself, which Leclerc has angrily hit out at as completely false.

RelatedPosts

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

5 hours ago
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

5 hours ago

“It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist. I am not racist and I absolutely hate racism. Racism is disgusting,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating others because of their skin colour, religion or gender. I’m not part of them and I never will. I’ve always been respectful to everyone and that should be the standard in today’s world.

“And to whoever is using my image to promote their wrong ideas, please stop. I’m not into politics and I don’t want to be involved in that.”

Leclerc later explained why he felt he needed to speak out during a press conference for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

“I just don’t want to be judged anymore. As I have said many times, I am quite active on social media and I do not accept to be called the way I have been called in the last few weeks, negatively obviously, just because of not kneeling.

“That’s it. I just wanted to make a straightforward tweet just to express my feelings and that is it.”

Magnussen on standing

Meanwhile Kevin Magnussen has explained why he chose to stand last weekend, despite having taken a knee at previous races.

“I think in terms of standing or kneeling I want to make sure I am with the message of ending racism and that I support that movement and not any sort of political organisation that I think the Black Lives Matter movement is.

“So I want to separate myself from that and then push on with ending racism and that message – which I think is great that F1 is doing and all the drivers are supporting.

“That’s what I said before the second Austrian Grand Prix and that’s the way I will continue to do.”

Tags: Charles LeclercF1F170
Share201Tweet126Share

Related Posts

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

5 hours ago
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

5 hours ago
Lando Norris topped FP2 for the F1 Italian GP
Formula 1

Lando Norris tops FP2 at Monza for F1 Italian GP

6 hours ago
Load More

Discussion about this post

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September
18Singapore GP03-05 October
19United States GP17-19 October
20Mexico City GP24-26 October

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri309
Lando Norris275
Max Verstappen205
George Russell184
Charles Leclerc151
Lewis Hamilton109
Andrea Kimi Antonelli64
Alexander Albon64
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar37

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

Kimi Antonelli is still positive of a good result in the Italian GP despite spinning in FP2
Formula 1

Kimi Antonelli maintains confidence is ‘high’ despite F1 Italian GP practice spin

September 5, 2025
Oscar Piastri was placed under investigation by the stewards
Formula 1

Oscar Piastri would’ve been ‘surprised’ by penalty after F1 Italian GP FP1 pit lane breach

September 5, 2025
Lando Norris topped FP2 for the F1 Italian GP
Formula 1

Lando Norris tops FP2 at Monza for F1 Italian GP

September 5, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd