While six-times champion Lewis Hamilton has worn a ‘Black Lives Matter’ T-shirt and taken a knee before all four races to date this season, drivers are free to choose their individual gesture of support.
Seven drivers, including Leclerc, remained standing last weekend.
“It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist,” Leclerc, 22, said on Twitter moments before attending a 70th Anniversary Grand Prix news conference.
It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist. I am no… https://t.co/s31sTkVly8
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) 1596728455000
“I am not racist and I absolutely hate racism. Racism is disgusting.
“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,” he added.
Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating others because of their skin c… https://t.co/08Vxc2Urqa
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) 1596728481000
“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.”
And to whoever is using my image to promote their wrong ideas, please stop. I’m not into politics and I don’t want… https://t.co/K0OpCOf8Ih
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) 1596728498000
Leclerc told reporters he had got frustrated with being falsely accused.
“I just don’t want to be judged any more,” he said.
“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.”
More News
EXPLAINED: From Silver to Gold! Why Navdeep Singh’s javelin medal was upgraded at Paris Paralympics | Paris Paralympics News – Times of India
USA men win third Paralympic wheelchair basketball title in a row | Paris Paralympics News – Times of India
‘Jab India jeetta hai toh Pakistan mein … ‘: Former Pakistan captain brutally trolled for congratulating Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli | Cricket News – Times of India