Daniel Joseph Ricciardo, born 1 July 1989, is an Australian racing driver who is currently competing in Formula One for the Renault F1 Team. He entered Formula One as a test driver for Scuderia Toro Rosso and made his debut at the 2011 British Grand Prix with the HRT team as part of a deal with Red Bull. After two seasons at Renault, Ricciardo is due to move to McLaren as a replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr. for the 2021 and 2022 Formula One seasons.
Following the death of George Floyd, The Minnesota man, who was black, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes, it was another case of police brutality and discrimination against African Americans in the United States. Floyd’s death sparked massive, widespread protests across the US. on Sunday night, a six-time reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is black, wrote on Instagram: “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice.”
“Not a sign from anybody in my industry which of course is a white-dominated sport. I’m one of the only people of color there yet I stand alone,” he added.
Hamilton also made it clear that racism is a global issue, not something which is unique to the United States.
“This is not just America, this is the UK, this is Spain, this is Italy and all over,” he said. “The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all the same. We are not born with racism and hate in our hearts, it is taught by those we look up to.”
After Hamilton said he “stands alone” in fighting racism in the sport, several F1 drivers finally took to social media to voice out against discrimination.
Daniel Ricciardo, is one of the other drivers from the F1 community finally condemned the blatant injustice happening around the world. He took to social media to post:
“Seeing the news the last few days has left me saddened, what happened to George Floyd and what continues to happen in today’s society is a disgrace. Now more than ever we need to stand together, unified together. Racism is toxic and needs to be addressed not with violence or silence but with unity and action. We need to stand up, we need to be a WE. Let’s be better people. It’s 2020 ffs. Black lives matter”.
‘Black Lives Matter’ demonstrations are taking place around the world after Mr George Floyd died last Monday.
Australian Formula One driver Ricciardo has also urged society to move away from the “toxic” and “disgraceful” racism many are subjected to on a daily basis.
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