This Season, F1 Removes The Kneeling Ceremony Ahead Of The Race

JAKARTA - Formula 1 will no longer allow drivers to kneel ahead of races as the sport's most prestigious race seeks more concrete action to combat racism.

F1 launched its "We Race As One" platform to promote equality in 2020, including holding a small pre-race ceremony where drivers line up on the grid to show their support for the initiative with a gesture of their choice.

"I think it's time to move from just a gesture of appreciating something very important to a plan," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports, Tuesday quoted by Antara.

"I think gestures have become important body language because we want to always respect everyone. But it's time to step forward and do something else."

A number of riders have opted to kneel, notably seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has been very vocal on issues of human rights, racial equality and the environment.

While others still chose to stand wearing T-shirts bearing messages of support for various issues at the ceremony that was broadcast pre-race.

The "We Race As One" brand will still be broadcast ahead of this season's races, an F1 spokesman told Reuters.

Meanwhile, Domenicali's interview with Sky Sports coincided with the announcement of the extension of F1's engineering scholarship program for underrepresented groups until 2025.

The program, which was launched last year, has sent 10 students studying various engineering disciplines at universities in the UK and Italy.

Domenicali said he was optimistic Hamilton would continue racing after the Briton ended his nearly two-month silence following the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix result in which he lost the world title race to Max Verstappen.

Hamilton returned to the public by uploading photos on social media on Friday.

"I looked at the last photo and there was a positive glow on his face and gestures," said Domenicali.

"I think it's important because Lewis is a tremendous asset not only to this sport but to the world.

"Lewis has a chance before his eyes to become an eight-time world champion. I think his battery will be fully charged for the start of the season," said Domenicali.

The Formula 1 season will kick off on March 20 in Bahrain.