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Joan Mir says seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton’s activism on social media is a “great example” for him and his fellow MotoGP riders to follow.
Hamilton, an elder statesman of modern grand prix racing and a driver with a truly global profile, has long established himself as someone outspoken on a variety of societal issues – whether it be racism, environment or animal welfare – in both media interviews and on his social media pages.
And he has been at the forefront of F1’s ongoing transition into a more socially-aware organisation too, which has been reflected in F1’s nascent diversity and sustainability initiatives and in many of its drivers electing to take a knee before races as a gesture against racism.
But F1’s two-wheeled counterpart MotoGP has remained relatively apolitical in comparison, particularly when it came to anti-racism gestures – although Petronas SRT Yamaha rider Franco Morbidelli did lead the way with an equality-themed helmet and candid discussions of discrimination.
“MotoGP focused more on the fight against COVID-19 and its consequences, rather than the condemnation of racism, maybe because there isn’t a black hero in the series like Lewis,” Morbidelli told Cycle World last year.
“Because of the colour of my skin, maybe I should take his example and become an ambassador of social values.
“But first I need to earn some credibility on the track. This is key if you want to raise your voice and be heard.”
Morbidelli proceeded to “earn credibility” over the rest of the season, as did Mir – who narrowly beat the Italian to the 2020 title.
And when asked on Thursday whether MotoGP riders – and he in particular as the reigning champion – needed to take a page out of Hamilton’s book, Mir agreed with the premise, although he stressed that he did not yet have the same platform or life experience as the F1 legend.
“Well, it’s true that it’s important – Lewis is a great example, [he has] a really good social page and he normally shares [draws attention to] a lot of things that are not right, and I admire this,” Mir said.
“I completely share this, what Lewis is transmitting to the people. But first I don’t have 20million followers [Mir has 30,000 Twitter followers to Hamilton’s 6.3million], this is the first thing.
“Then the second thing is that I’m 23 years old, I think he at 23 was not doing these things.
“But this doesn’t mean that more riders [should not] we have to be conscious about what is happening on the Earth, and to try to be a little bit more social about these things, to post more of these type of things.
“I will be one of [the people] that push for this, but yeah, at the moment, I agree and this is something that we have to do.
“I cannot say more, it’s true.”
