“This is contrary to the Russian mentality”: Quat responded to criticism for refusing to kneel before the Austrian Grand Prix

Russian Formula 1 pilot Daniil Kvyat commented on his refusal to kneel during the Austrian Grand Prix to support the fight against "racism." He stated that this gesture was contrary to his own mentality. At the same time, the athlete assured that he was ready to continue to support the struggle for the equal rights of people of different races, but only in other ways.

“When they suggested that as a gesture of the fight against racism, everyone should kneel on one knee, it was a little incomprehensible to me. Because this, let’s say, is a little contrary to my mentality, the Russian mentality. Where they kneel before the Motherland, the flag, God. Of course, we are all united in the fight against racism. And we showed our position by putting on a T-shirt with the words “End to Racism” before the race, ”said Kvyat in an interview with Channel One.

An action against racism called We Race As One (translated from English “We are one in races / races.” - RT ) was held on July 5 immediately before the Austrian Grand Prix during the performance of the national anthem. It was assumed that the pilots will kneel in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, as many athletes do before competitions in Europe and North America. However, not all riders agreed to kneel. In addition to Quat, Max Verstappen, Charles Lecler, Kimi Raikkonen, Carlos Sainz and Antonio Giovinazzi refused this gesture.

The behavior of the riders was criticized by some journalists. So, CBS editor Igor Melo wrote on Twitter that on the part of Verstappen and Lecler, two future stars of Formula 1, it "looked ugly." Evening Standard correspondent Joe Krishnan said it could not be called unity, "when two-thirds of the pilots knelt and the rest did not." Another journalist Phill Tromans also noted that the incident puts the pilots "not in the best light."

The Brazilian rider Joao Paulo Oliveira criticized his colleagues. He called the pilots “too young” to understand the scale of the problem, despite the fact that one of the standing athlete Kimi Raikkonen is already 40 years old.

“I can’t understand why some Formula 1 pilots did not follow the general manifesto, which just required everyone to kneel to show respect. Perhaps they are still too young to understand serious problems? ” - Oliveira wrote on Twitter, but later deleted his message.

The leadership of Formula 1 did not begin to punish the refused pilots. The racers union announced in advance that each of them has the right to choose their own way to support the fight against “racism”.

According to Daniel Riccardo, the pilots agreed that national and cultural differences between them should be taken into account in such a matter.

“Yesterday, all pilots said they support the fight against racism and want to end it. There is no one who is against this idea. I think that for some pilots there are difficulties in connection with their nationality and what kneeling means to them. We only want to support the Black Lives Matter, there is no politics or anything else, there is simply a fine line that concerns the perception of the gesture by people of different nationalities, ”explained the Renault ESPN pilot.

The only black pilot in Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton did not criticize his colleagues. He said that he would not force anyone to kneel.

“I know the opinion of some pilots, but no one should be in a situation in which he is obliged to kneel. He never asked or demanded that anyone do this and never put forward this idea. This was done by the Formula 1 management and the union. I want to let everyone have their own opinion, and I told everyone: “Guys, I will do it, but you can do what you think is right,” said Hamilton.

This week, the second stage of Formula 1 will take place - the Styrian Grand Prix. According to the Daily Mail, this time the knee bowing will no longer be as massive as before the first race. The organizers will not spread a carpet for this action and will offer pilots to choose a place themselves to express their protest. Even Hamilton admitted that he was no longer sure that he would kneel again.

“I do not know what the future plan will be. It is great that Formula 1 and specifically Mercedes recognize the problem that we are facing in the world and decide to do something with it. All of us, including myself, must understand responsibility and look at what we can improve in our organizations and teams. Moving forward, I don’t know if I will continue to kneel, ”said the current world champion.