Lewis Hamilton compares Florida LGBT issues to Saudi Arabia ahead of Miami GP

04 May 2023 , 21:16

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Lewis Hamilton will wear the rainbow flag on his helmet in Miami this weekend in support of the LGBT community (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton called out Florida lawmakers over the controversial 'Don't Say Gay' laws which were recently expanded in the American state.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 'Parental Rights in Education bill into state law at the end of March. It means public school teachers are no longer allowed to teach pupils about sexual orientation or gender identity right up to the final year of high school.

Speaking to reporters, DeSantis claimed it would not be "appropriate" for children to be taught about LGBT issues. Naturally, the bill has been widely criticised including by President Joe Biden who described the legislation as "hateful".

Hamilton, in Florida this weekend for the Miami Grand Prix, has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights for many years and regularly races with the rainbow flag on his helmet. He told BBC 5 Live he would be doing so again this weekend as he denounced the new law.

"It's not good at all," he told the radio station's preview show as he compared the move to the repression faced by LGBT people in Saudi Arabia. "I stand by those within the community here. I hope they continue to stand firm + push back. I'll have the rainbow on my helmet. It's no different to when we were in Saudi."

Sebastian Vettel warns of looming F1 ban and is "very worried about the future"

Hamilton, 38, is in the final year of his Mercedes contract and is regularly the subject of speculation about his Formula 1 future. But he insists he is still at the top of his game and is not considering retirement just yet.

"I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I'm not at the end of my career, I'm not in the downhill slope of my career. I'm in my prime," he told ESPN.

"It all depends on how hard I want to work and keep myself in my prime, in terms of physical and mental capability. If you look at LeBron [James], if you look at Tom Brady, they have shown that it can be sustained for as long as you are dedicated enough to put the energy and time in.

"Right now, I don't plan on changing, I only plan on adding to the drive and the motivation and to being better. I'm massively driven."

Daniel Moxon