To think that F1 is adopting a quasi-religious mantra in “WeRaceAsOne”?

[Notjustanymum]

As a long-lapsed RC, I recall that one of the central ways of proclaiming your religion was the chanting, in unison, of prayers, particularly the Creed or Credo, in a public place (Church). This always made me cringe inwardly, as I felt that God* would know if I was just saying it, rather than meaning it, so felt it was said out loud just to make others a. Feel a part of the community, b. Allow particularly nasty holier-than-thou’s to spot if you weren’t word perfect and c. To enable those with a particular bent to become holier-than-thou on all things proving your allegiance to the Catholic faith.
*if one exists...
Feeling uncomfortable with the conformist leanings of this practice was just one of the many reasons I lapsed, basing my dislike of this on generally patriarchic directives that I felt were several centuries out of date...
However, in 2020 and again in 2021, The F1 drivers now all seem to chant their own creed, in the guise of “WeRaceAsOne”, before each and every race on TV.
I really detest this; I wonder if they are all joining in of free will, and I hate the correlation with community prayer that talks about their beliefs (as sportspersons) in this way, just like reciting a creed communally indicates that it’s something everyone should join in with.
It’s almost as if, like with formal prayers said within the Mass, by not joining in vocally, you’re in the wrong or at least being disrespectful...
I have no objection to the statement being written on the website as a mission statement for the sport for anyone interested in what it’s all about, but just having to listen to it chanted before each race puts me right off.
Does anyone else feel this way? I’m aware that my feelings around religion and conformity might be a bit unusual (but that’s because of my experiences in life)

YABU - it’s harmless
YANBU - it’s performance preaching

Yes but how effective are these things? They're all very fluffy.

I have a similar story to LH (nowhere near as successful obviously). The change is made every single day by challenging and breaking down stereotypes not by making big statements and shopping at Waitrose because it's fair trade.

Why is he not pushing for an African race?
No he prefers Miami.

Alpine has a charity supporting kids coming into the sport as well and I know a few drivers, Kimi especially, who support a lot of charities very quietly without fanfare.

Most teams have driver academy's but even getting a start at the bottom is impossible for most, karting is ridiculously expensive and beyond the means of most working class families.

I love this sport, I have family within this sport and I agree, something needs to change, we need less playboy billionaires with questionable talent and more kids there who deserve to be there.

I don't know how effective they are. They are relatively new initiatives. But that's changing your goalposts from saying that he hasn't done anything other than whinge and whine. There's a lot of whataboutery when it comes to Lewis. He's certainly not perfect, but he is passionate.

From a quick google he said last year that he was pushing for a race in Africa, that Africa deserves to be showcased and that they shouldn't just follow the money. But that's not anything he has any power over. Liberty Media own those decisions and though there are grumblings of an African Grand Prix 2023, I doubt Liberty will go unless the money is there. As far as I know Lewis wasn't behind the decision to go to Miami.

Lewis is one person. Changing F1 to be a more inclusive environment doesn't and shouldn't fall exclusively on his shoulders. But he really wants to cause positive change, inspire a new generation, speak out against racism and help save the planet and he genuinely tries to help. And that's a lot more than some of the others he's racing alongside.

@CommanderBurnham
I agree, he comes across not only as a whinger but as quite disingenuous with all his causes. The repeated cries on social media for normal people to stop eating meat because its bad for the environment don't seem as genuine when he gets on a private jet everywhere and races in f1.

He referred to being raised in stevenage as akin to living in the slums and regularly counts his disadvantages, when in reality it was a lower middle class upbringing in an alright area, with a constant father figure and enough money to go karting.

@toastofthetown

I think one big issue you have to factor in is that Lewis will always now have a voice. He's won everything in f1 time and time again, he's worth so much it wouldn't matter if he got sponsorship or a wage, he could crack onvfor free or pay to drive.

While they appear well paid there's not a huge amount of other drivers who can say the same in respect to sponsorship. They have to toe the company line of risk being jobless. Last year some drivers felt that if they took a knee they'd have severe penalties for them. And when you look at sponsors and race locations like China, Russia, the Middle East, you can understand.

But conflating equality between races and personal beliefs is a bit disingenuous

True. But they could have done it in a way that was more inclusive and neutral, detaching themselves from the political movement and its symbolisms.

They have to toe the company line of risk being jobless. Last year some drivers felt that if they took a knee they'd have severe penalties for them

That's outright bullying and discrimination by their employer, surely

@Notjustanymum

Utterly nonsense.
Things need to be done to keep reminding us the work that needs to be done to ensure the world gets more equal and fair.

It’s a great idea what F1 is doing.

[quote EverdeRose]@toastofthetown

I think one big issue you have to factor in is that Lewis will always now have a voice. He's won everything in f1 time and time again, he's worth so much it wouldn't matter if he got sponsorship or a wage, he could crack onvfor free or pay to drive.

While they appear well paid there's not a huge amount of other drivers who can say the same in respect to sponsorship. They have to toe the company line of risk being jobless. Last year some drivers felt that if they took a knee they'd have severe penalties for them. And when you look at sponsors and race locations like China, Russia, the Middle East, you can understand.[/quote]
Yes that's hugely important. I imagine it's why Lewis wasn't so outspoken in his early career. Now he has transcended the sport he can afford to be outspoken.To be honest my last line was largely pointing at Nikita Mazepin. There are many other drivers highlighting issues important to them (Lando Norris very recently with mental health comes to mind).

he knows he needs to give back but doesn't know how

Top level sportsmen and celebrities are immensely wealthy. I'm sure they know how they could put their personal money to good use if they wanted to.

There are many other drivers highlighting issues important to them (Lando Norris very recently with mental health comes to mind)

And that's great. If they do it as an individual, not force it on the whole sport.

@mustlovegin it is what it is. But f1 is a world wide sport with world wide sponsors, still travelling to countries where homosexulaity is illegal, women have no rights and state sponsored propaganda bleats out of the TV and interest 24/7. If your sponsored by a Russian oil company who pay for your drive and they're not happy about you taking a knee, because all told they quite like a bit of racism, you can say goodbye to your job, the team won't keep you if you're not bringing money in.

@mustlovegin

There are many other drivers highlighting issues important to them (Lando Norris very recently with mental health comes to mind)

And that's great. If they do it as an individual, not force it on the whole sport.

Well interestingly Lando's comments were on the impact of these super long seasons on the mental heath of the engineers and mechanics, so in way wanting to force it on the whole sport.

And I still don't see anything that Lewis has 'forced on the sport'. Lewis is a driver employed by Mercedes, and only FOM and the FIA have the power to force things. Like taking the knee - Lewis hasn't forced anyone to do it. Last year there were five or six drivers who didn't take the knee. Nothing happened because of what each driver chose to do. I believe that Daniil Kvyat who is Russian (referencing @EverdeRose's comments above) didn't kneel because to him he would only kneel for his country or his God. It was a non issue. Not sure if Nikita or Mick take the knee. Might look it up.

If your sponsored by a Russian oil company who pay for your drive and they're not happy about you taking a knee, because all told they quite like a bit of racism

Nobody should lose their jobs for expressing an opinion (taking a knee or not, in this context)

However, I'm not sure whether sponsors in non-western countries are racist, maybe they find that kind of political activism unacceptable in sports. Perhaps they disagree with the approach, think it very one-sided (leaves many viewers unrepresented) and don't want to be associated with it, which is understandable too.

Not sure if Nikita or Mick take the knee. Might look it up

But that's the point. We shouldn't have to be looking this up. Public figures can do whatever they like within their own promotional space (Instagram, Twitter, interviews, etc). Viewers can decide whether to listen to them or not. When you are watching the races, you should just be watching the sport. Not political propaganda.

@mustlovegin

Not sure if Nikita or Mick take the knee. Might look it up

But that's the point. We shouldn't have to be looking this up. Public figures can do whatever they like within their own promotional space (Instagram, Twitter, interviews, etc). Viewers can decide whether to listen to them or not. When you are watching the races, you should just be watching the sport. Not political propaganda.

I just meant I was idly wondering if being on a largely Russian owned team would have had any effect. If I cared I would have actually known. As it turns out one does and one doesn't. Which is pretty much confirms what I was thinking in that each driver can choose to do what they want. Nobody is losing their job for kneeling or not.

I also don't agree that a stand against racism is political propaganda. It's a human rights issue.

@DysmalRadius

An inherently racist sport committing to global equality is quite different from reciting mass. For example:

It’s almost as if, like with formal prayers said within the Mass, by not joining in vocally, you’re in the wrong or at least being disrespectful...

If you aren't keen on eradicating racism, then many would argue that you are wrong and disrespectful and it appears that the majority of the members the Formula 1 racing community are among them.

I'm not sure why you would argue for an environment in which overt racism was not discouraged but, having read some of the comments about the England team taking the knee, there are clearly plenty of sports fans who agree with you.

The thing about taking the knee pisses me off. By booing players and sending black players racist abuse every time their team loses - and I know it's not just British fans - you're just reinforcing why it's needed. One of the players on my team comes from a poor area of Brazil where black men and boys are routinely shot dead by police. He's mixed-race himself and it's personal to him but according to some fans, he and other black/mixed players like him are woke Marxist scum or whatever for supporting BLM. I doubt he's even that interested in Marxist theory. He just wants people like him to stop being shot by police.

I am cynical about F1 but I don't think it's worth getting upset about.

@mustlovegin

Not sure if Nikita or Mick take the knee. Might look it up

But that's the point. We shouldn't have to be looking this up. Public figures can do whatever they like within their own promotional space (Instagram, Twitter, interviews, etc). Viewers can decide whether to listen to them or not. When you are watching the races, you should just be watching the sport. Not political propaganda.

Why do people always say this about racism and not, say, poppies?

Exactly KevinTheGoat, qwhite interesting.

not, say, poppies?

Poppies is a national inclusive symbol. Taking a knee and the broader movement is political, excludes many and started in the US. You can't compare the two.

I actually find some of the posts on this thread really ignorant on what steps have happened over the past 18 months to 2 years. Calling what has been done so far by a lot of people involved in the sport 'fluffy' and comparing the "We Race As One" as some sort of religious mantra or prayer is bordering on the offensive.

Changes to how people treat others, racism, and a whole load of other personal traits are not eradicated overnight nor are they down to one person to fix it is down to ALL of us to fix. Of course there is only one person that people look to in the F1 paddock when the topic of racism comes up, the only black F1 driver in the paddock. He got his drive with McLaren on pure talent and it's taken him to Mercedes and to 7 drivers championships.

Serena Williams is trying to highlight the inequalities and racism in Tennis. As there are only 2 on the court at the time when the match starts, it seems a bit silly to have a "We Play As One" video played but it's equally relevant.

It was only in the past fortnight that a story about the Tulsa Race Massacre was highlighted by Tom Hanks and it got a lot of traction amongst the white community because it wasn't taught in American schools to American kids, white American kids. It takes all of us, to educate ourselves about the past so it doesn't get repeated in the future.
If you don't like the "We Race as One" or any of the pre-race build up, don't watch it.
If you want to get rid of racism, call it out when you see it happening, then perhaps "We Race as One" won't need to disrupt your viewing pleasure.
Actually, just stop watching F1. It won't miss a 'fan' like you.

I love Formula 1 but under my personal creed until Lewis Hamilton spends as much time supporting women in racing & motorsport as he does for BLM he will get little attention from me. I love him - I think he is beyond fabulous, but I have to prioritise my beliefs and women (adult born females) are under-represented in motor sport.

Ethnicities and nationalities - now that seems much broader (but as other pps have stated mostly based on individual wealth).

@spongedog

I love Formula 1 but under my personal creed until Lewis Hamilton spends as much time supporting women in racing & motorsport as he does for BLM he will get little attention from me. I love him - I think he is beyond fabulous, but I have to prioritise my beliefs and women (adult born females) are under-represented in motor sport.

Ethnicities and nationalities - now that seems much broader (but as other pps have stated mostly based on individual wealth).

But why is that Lewis Hamilton’s responsibility? He isn’t responsible for every underrepresented group in motorsport by virtue of being the only black person on the grid.

Incidentally, he has spoken out in support of the W series, and has a team in Extreme E, where each team has to include a woman.

@LookItsMeAgain, I don't watch the 'we race as one' as it doesn't make an impression on me. I dont find it offensive, just a bit obvious and unnecessary. I absolutely agree with you as I've said in my PP that racism is fought on the ground by small deeds of either kindness and tolerance, or by calling it out.

Lots of people can talk about being against racism, but Liberty one playing a video about 'we race as one' and then not taking Lewis on about a race in Africa makes the point.
I still only see one black racing driver on the track, I can't remember seeing one black engineer or one black man in leadership. So they can play their video as much as they like but it doesn't wash with me.

My point is they actually do a lot of things that are inclusive, that other sports don't do but they need to do more for black people.

Or black woman in leadership.