Lewis Hamilton and Co given time to kneel at start of British GP after Hungarian GP farce.. but seven still refuse

FORMULA ONE drivers refused to take the knee at the British Grand Prix – as more controversy surrounded the ongoing decision.

Seven drivers refused to back down and stood up almost in protest to the 12 racers in front of them who did go down on one knee.

Lewis Hamilton leads the protest by taking the knee before the British Formula One Grand Prix while others stand motionless

On the starting grid and only some bend the knee

Two drivers take the knee but others defiantly reject the movement

Some drivers, including Hamilton, also wore black T-shirts with the Black Lives Matter logo emblazoned on them.

Lewis Hamilton has remained calm about the situation, making it a driver’s personal choice.

Fellow Brit Lando Norris joined Hamilton in taking the knee.

But Black Lives Matter chiefs will not doubt Be disappointed that non-BAME drivers are refusing to take the action.

Just before the start of the race at 2.10pm at Silverstone it was hoped that more drivers would take the knee.

It follows criticism from the lack of drivers taking the action at the previous grands prix in Austria and Hungary.

Drivers were expected to come together during the playing if the national anthem.

Brit Norris, 20, insisted: “We are united in agreeing with what we support as a community of F1 drivers.

“Whether we do take the knee or we don’t take the knee, that is not the question. I don’t think that needs to be the reason why people judge some of us to be in support of it or not. We all support it.

“Some people want to do different things, but we are all in agreement that we want to take a stand and show support of what we’re trying to do against racism.

It follows the embarrassment at the Hungary GP when Italian driver Antonio Giovinazzi forgot to wear his ‘END RACISM’ T-shirt.

Hamilton has worn a Black Lives Matter T-shirt and has been highly vocal in wanting to highlight the problems of racism within F1 and wider society.

After his win in the Styrian Grand Prix, he raised his fist aloft on the podium in a Black Power salute.

There have been various reasons why they have chosen not to take the knee.

Hamilton is the only black driver in F1.

Footballers in the Premier League have been taking the knee since the restart following the coronavirus pandemic.

Scottish footballers did likewise when their new season reopened yesterday.

The first person to take this stand was NFL player Colin Kaepernick.

He sat and later knelt during the USA national anthem to raise awareness that black people were not being treated fairly in society.