860 replies to this topic

[southernstars]

Does anyone know the answer to this?

 

LH said he would ignore the rule and continue as before ... he said this after a meeting with "MBS" .... he has now sported a rainbow helmet ... which some of us see as a significant challenge to the new rule .... so what has happened?

 

So far as I can see, nothing...

 

Was all of this a non issue??

 

I believe I saw that the answer to this was that because the FIA have their "We Race As One" rainbow, Lewis' rainbow is not considered a political statement, and therefore he didn't need permission.

 

Seems a bit of a cop-out to me.

[Myrvold]

I believe I saw that the answer to this was that because the FIA have their "We Race As One" rainbow, Lewis' rainbow is not considered a political statement, and therefore he didn't need permission.

Seems a bit of a cop-out to me.

Except the We Race For Highest Bidders thing isn't a rainbow.

[Zmeej]

Except the We Race For Highest Bidders thing isn't a rainbow.

 

Right on.

[jjcale]

I believe I saw that the answer to this was that because the FIA have their "We Race As One" rainbow, Lewis' rainbow is not considered a political statement, and therefore he didn't need permission.

 

Seems a bit of a cop-out to me.

 

By whom ... SLH or the FIA?

 

The rainbow lid keeps SLH's street cred ... whilst doing nothing to bother anyone with any power in Bahrain.

....

 

 

Never forget ,,,

 

 

https://www.telegrap...ahrain-culture/

 

 

Hamilton, 31, arrived at the Bahrain International circuit in Sakhir dressed in a full white thobe, the traditional attire worn by the Arabic elite.

The Mercedes driver tweeted a picture of himself adrorned in the white robe prior the start of the race, posting "Nothing but love and respect for this culture!"

Nothing but love and respect for this culture, and Bahrain!! Feeling royal!  #BahrainGP #LetsGO #TeamLH pic.twitter.com/CsyHpPrvol

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) April 3, 2016

Hamilton's tweet was pounced upon by a number of users who saw the post as tasteless given the controversy surrounding the Sunni royal family's history of rule.

The Bahrain fixture has been dubbed 'The Race of Blood' after violent protests ahead of the 2011 Grand Prix caused the race to be cancelled.

...

The race was cancelled in 2011 following a number of violent protests, but was re-instated to the F1 calendar in 2012.

In 2013, anti-government protestors in Bahrain took to the streets in a bid to disrupt the race.

Activists claimed the race was being used by the royal family as a distraction tool to cover-up human rights abuses and gain international recognition.

 

 

 

In the context of the Human Rights cesspool that is Bahrain .... unless he has a personal connection to that particular issue to justify focusing on that issue only ... a rainbow lid is just virtue signalling of the most cynical kind. 

 

Also ... dont forget that Bahrain owned a big chunk of Macca when he was there .... and Macca gave him his start ...... so I guess, we cant fault the fellow's loyalty.  

Edited by jjcale, 10 March 2023 - 18:37.

[southernstars]

Except the We Race For Highest Bidders thing isn't a rainbow.

 

 

Well, it sort of is, they presented it in rainbow form with all of the teams' colours. Hamilton's was a proper rainbow, so not quite the same.

 

By whom ... SLH or the FIA?

 

The FIA, of course. They don't want to agitate the drivers right before Saudi, where there were significant problems last year. If they had picked a fight with Hamilton over the rainbow in Bahrain, you can bet the drivers would have come back with a much more obvious response for the next race, and it probably would have been more drivers, not just Hamilton.

 

The FIA will just be hoping there are no more missiles this year, as the drivers are probably much more galvanised to say "absolutely not" this time.

[ANF]

Lewis Hamilton was 31 seven years ago...

[jjcale]

Well, it sort of is, they presented it in rainbow form with all of the teams' colours. Hamilton's was a proper rainbow, so not quite the same.

 

 

The FIA, of course. They don't want to agitate the drivers right before Saudi, where there were significant problems last year. If they had picked a fight with Hamilton over the rainbow in Bahrain, you can bet the drivers would have come back with a much more obvious response for the next race, and it probably would have been more drivers, not just Hamilton.

 

The FIA will just be hoping there are no more missiles this year, as the drivers are probably much more galvanised to say "absolutely not" this time.

 

There will be no more missiles this year

 

https://www.ft.com/content/62bdd6d6-4fd0-4df6-9fcc-2be528ab7206 

Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic ties after seven-year rift

 

Ironically, this would not have happened if last year F1 had pulled out of the event because of the missile strike ... this would have led to Saudi losing face on a global level and very likely they would have retaliated against the Iranian allies in Yemen ... which would have prevented the ceasefire between the Saudis and the Yemenis last year .... which would have made the Saudi/Iran rapproachement very unlikely indeed. 

 

... but anyway .... the important point is - there will definitely be no missiles this year.

 

...... folks can calm down now. 

[jjcale]

Lewis Hamilton was 31 seven years ago...

 

And the crackdown by the Bahraini govt was still very fresh in the memory - and violent repression was still ongoing ... so what was his instinct  .... "I love Bahraini culture .... look at my cool outfit .... I feel Royal".

 

.... I like the guy - I even share some of his opinions .... but lets not pretend like we are dealing with Ghandi here.

 

If the FIA says "button it" during race meets, its not a tragedy... life will go on.

 

And apparently ....even if he doesnt "button it" and just does some meek virtue signalling in the face of one of the most repressive regimes in the world ... life goes on anyway. 

 

This is why I ask ... has this been a non-issue all along?

[taran]

Dutch F1 site F1maximaal.nl and the Asser Institute have published an article about sportswashing and the Saudi Grand Prix.

While it is in Dutch, any translation programme should be able to make it readable in English.

 

https://www.f1maxima...oet-organiseren

[LolaB0860]

https://www.motorspo...dards/10453049/
Norris: "Terrible" Pirelli tyres not up to F1 standards

Have they fined him yet for speaking bad of one of F1 Global Partners ™?

Edited by LolaB0860, 05 April 2023 - 04:45.

[MikeTekRacing]

Pirelli makes tyres for F1s request.
F1 is banning tyre warmers so outlaps are tricky and challenging and now drivers complain they are challenging?

These are supposed to be the best drivers in the world?