Lewis Hamilton never fails to stand up for the LGBTQ+ community, and that’s especially the case when he’s competing in a country with strict anti-gay laws.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion wore a rainbow flag on his helmet over the weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, marking the second time he’s rocked Pride colors in the Gulf state. Hamilton sported Progress Pride flag colors on his helmet two years ago when he won the inaugural Grand Prix.
Speaking before this weekend’s race, Hamilton said he hopes his headwear ignites discussion.
“I think it’s always good and well raising awareness for things, but it’s more about the work that’s done in the background, the conversations that you continue to have to have,” he said.
Hamilton’s gesture of solidarity stands in stark contrast to soccer legend David Beckham, who’s continually downplayed Qatar’s abhorrent treatment of LGBTQ+ folx. He inked a $150 million ambassadorship deal with the country prior to the 2022 World Cup, and extolled Qatar’s “perfection.”
Contrastingly, Hamilton says he feels an obligation to highlight civil rights issues.
“I do think as these sports go to these places, they’re duty-bound to raise awareness for these issues,” he said in 2021. “And these places need scrutiny and need the media to speak about these things.”
That was not the vibe at Qatar during last year’s World Cup, as FIFA warned players they would be disciplined if they wore rainbow regalia.
But Hamilton is intent on forcing the conversation.
“It has taken the West a long, long time to get to where they are. All we can do is try to be positive when we come to these places and take the opportunity,” he said. “That’s why I continue to wear the flag here.”
Hamilton’s taken his rainbow helmet on a bit of a world tour, also wearing the item in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Earlier this year, Hamilton wore his special helmet in Florida, to protest the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
“It’s not good at all,” he said to the Associated Press. “I stand by those within the community here. I hope they continue to stand firm and push back. I’ll have the rainbow on my helmet. It’s no different to when we were in Saudi.”
As Formula 1’s only Black driver, Hamilton uses his platform to speak about social justice and equality. During the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, he showed solidarity with the movement whenever he could.
Hamilton even publicly criticized Formula 1 for its failures to diversify.
“It’s lacking leadership,” he said, via the New York Times. “It shouldn’t be for me to have to call the teams or call the teams out.”
The British-born racer also attended a Black Lives Matter protest in London.
The most decorated Formula 1 driver in history, Hamilton’s voice is tantamount when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion in auto racing. He’s earned respect across the sports world, hanging out with LeBron James and other athletic superstars.
Despite facing some blowback, Hamilton plans to keep speaking out, and wearing his rainbow best.
“I was really proud of 2021,” he said. “It was also nerve-racking because I didn’t know how the country would react.
“But it’s amazing when I do meet people who are incredibly grateful for utilizing the platform for something like that.”
Hamilton can count us among the thankful. It’s important when an all-time great is on your side.
Donston
We really need to stop putting these straight-presenting men on a pedestal. Someone can be an “ally” one minute and then a year or two later they say or do something “problematic”. Remember that almost all these public figures are driven by their bottom line and by egos first and foremost. Also, the “ally” movement is dead. Just say you think he’s hot and that he’s shown queer support. We don’t have to keep giving people special titles.
Mars414
I’m guessing you don’t know anything about Formula 1 racing. I, however, am a huge fan of both the sport and Lewis Hamilton. I’m also gay. Lewis has experienced an avalanche of racism for his incredible success in a sport with few Black drivers. He could have just limited his activist to anti-racism because it affects him personally, but he has always defended the LGBTQ community throughout his career, for which he has faced even more hate. He has a huge heart and even paid a personal visit to a terminally ill little boy and had his Formula 1 car shipped to the front of the boy’s home because he was such a huge fan. He makes a lot of money because he excels at his sport. He could just shut up and drive, but he doesn’t.
SUPREME
excuse me, but we need all of the friends we can get.
monty clift
“The ‘ally’ movement is dead.” Except that it’s not. These are trying times, and like SUPREME said, we need all the friends we can get. I see no falsehood in Hamilton, and whether straight or gay, it’s a big risk to show open support for LGBT people, especially in the sporting industries.
bachy
The antipathy toward allies is based on the expectation that they say and do the exact right thing at all times. But “the exact right thing” is a constantly shifting target, as different members of the rainbow coalition jockey for ideological leadership. We need to loosen up, be less outraged by the diversity of perceptions and ideas within the movement – and be grateful to our allies for helping to shape the future.
Donston
A lot of y’all have reading comprehension issues and/or have a difficult time with nuance. I did not say that showing queer solidarity is dated or unnecessary. My criticism is towards the article and towards “ally culture”. It is old-fashioned to hype people for being “allies”. We can acknowledge and appreciate without the pedestal placing. The term “ally” itself is also dated terminology. And unabashed “queers” indulging that hype often is a trogan horse for “straight presenting”/hetero-leaning worship and superiority, which a lot of people who post here clearly have problems with. While we also know that if Lewis wasn’t good-looking to many people, this site wouldn’t care that much about his “ally-ship”.
BtnBill
Pink News 27/12/17. Paints a very different image.
FreddieW
Good for him, though I really think a better approach is to stay away from oppressive places importing Western culture without Western freedoms. I realize the money is probably hard to pass up.
MISTERJETT
gorgeous!!!!!
bachy
Love the Takashi Murakami ensemble. Hamilton is a real fashion plate!
Fahd
Kudos to Lewis Hamilton! His help is appreciated and needed more than ever, especially in the backwaters of the world where the wealth they’ve accumulated from selling their natural resources stands in stark contrast to their treatment of minorities. So many of these countries (see, for example, Saudi Arabia) are spending big with the idea of making their backward social conditions or outright human rights abuses somehow acceptable to decent people. The term “sportwashing” is used more and more.
“Sportwashing is when sport — with all the positive feelings it inspires — is used to divert attention from social or environmental problems.”
Hats off to Lewis Hamilton!
BtnBill
Pink News 27/12/17. Paints a very different image.
Fahd
@BtnBill
Innuendo is not a good thing. Please stop littering the comments section with your droppings.
I did a search of Pink News for Lewis Hamilton and it’s one article of praise after another. The 2017 date you provided doesn’t come up if one searches Lewis Hamilton.
Do we now have Fake News trolls on Queerty too?
SDR94103
blm – what a joke that turned out to be.
Mack
Awwwww, the little right winger got his panties in a twist.
Baron Wiseman
Joke or Scam?
Where did ALL those tens of millions of dollars that Americans donated go? Oh, that’s right, to buy expensive Southern California mansions. Nothing like helping out the most vulnerable.
Well, BLM did come out and support the torturous and evil Hamas today.
dbmcvey
Good for him! A great ally!
BtnBill
Pink News 27/12/17. Paints a very different image.
dbmcvey
You’re really pushing this. Why don’t you just tell us what it says?
Hayden
Do we have to sexualize and drool over every ally? It perpetuates stereotype that all gay men want any swinging dick in the room. Can’t we just appreciate his as an ally and not a sex object?
dbmcvey
The puritans have spoken.
Hayden
That’s puritan to you?
BtnBill
An interesting article. Though this is not the image that comes to mind when I think of the gentleman.
Pink News 27/12/17. Paints a very different image.
fab0497
I still remember when he teases his nephew for dressing like a “girl”. It seems to he have changed since then. Good for him