When Lewis Hamilton has a cause to fight, it is invariably reflected on the track.
Early in his karting career, when any racist slurs were thrown his way, he channelled it by blitzing the field come the race. And at Silverstone this weekend, once the visor is down on his race helmet, Hamilton will look to do exactly the same.
The eight-time British Grand Prix winner has every right to feel like the returning hero this weekend and undoubtedly will be made to feel that way, with a record crowd of more than 400,000 people expected through the turnstiles over the course of the next three days.
But to get to that point, he has instead been left to answer a racist slur aimed his way. Footage emerged this week of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet calling Hamilton a “neguinho”, a Portuguese term meaning “little n*****”. It understandably led to a rebuke from Hamilton, Piquet’s life membership being removed by the British Racing Drivers’ Club, who own Silverstone, and a ban from the Formula One paddock.
Sir Jackie Stewart, meanwhile, last week called for the 37-year-old Briton to pack up his racing overalls and pursue other interests, remarking that “the rag trade would be suitable for him”.
Hamilton suggested Piquet and Stewart should not be given the platform to make such utterances. Now, his attention is firmly focused on getting behind the wheel of his Mercedes and proving such people wrong, as he has done so often in his career.
Friday only gives a fraction of an indication where teams are. Mercedes have had brilliant practice sessions on the opening track day of a race weekend only for it unravel in qualifying and, more crucially, the race.
So, reading too much into his return to the track is not necessarily helpful. But Mercedes — drivers and team members — have cut happier figures at Silverstone, the suggestion being they may finally have a car worthy of competition.
There have been the occasional podium finishes but still too far behind the Red Bulls and Ferraris. The hope, although not expectation it has to be said, is they might finally get in the mix with the front runners.
To get to that point, Hamilton finds himself in a rather farcical battle over his jewellery. This weekend, effectively race stewards can now take official action if he continues to wear his nose stud — or anything else for that matter. At worst, he could be omitted from racing altogether or more likely be handed some sort of fine.
Dialogue continues between Hamilton, Mercedes and the sport’s rulemakers, the FIA, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested things were going to be resolved. “We know there is a safety issue with drivers and Lewis understands that,” said the Austrian. “The FIA has compromised so far. I expect the dialogue to continue and that there will not be any controversy this weekend. That is going to go away.”
The whole matter has riled Hamilton when there are bigger issues for him, the sport and the wider world.
The jewellery matter has riled Hamilton when there are bigger issues for him, the sport and the wider world
Regarding the issue, he said: “We’ve really lost our focus on other more important areas.”
At times, he has felt alone in making a stance against racism and other matters, and he implored others to take greater action alongside him in future.
“A lot of people have said that they are supportive over the past couple of years,” he said. “But a lot of that is lip service. We are not doing that. We are about action, putting our money where our mouth is.”
