SUMMARY
- Sebastian Vettel is one of the fewest drivers who has often voiced out in support of minority groups.
- Vettel and Hamilton often joined hands to support the LGBTQ+ community by sporting rainbow colors.
As the growing popularity of Formula 1 calls for necessary changes in many departments of the sport, many drivers have vocalized the need for more diversity and inclusivity in the sport too. Up until now, the conversation about having women in the sport and making their way to F1 was trending, but Sebastian Vettel has raised his voice for diversity in many aspects of the sport.
Drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been the voice of the need for diversity in the sport. Until now, the championship has seen many male drivers reach the top, but with very little diversity on the grid in terms of race and gender has become a serious conversation.
Nevertheless, as the sport only grows with the drivers becoming an inspiration for many, Vettel has called for the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community to join the sport too.
Sebastian Vettel asks for better opportunity to help diversity in F1
Sebastian Vettel has become an advocate for many causes in the many years of his racing career. Apart from focusing and driving to achieve four championship titles, the driver has paid attention to the environment, LGBTQ+ communities, and more. Alongside his good friend, Hamilton, the duo has managed to bring many important topics to the world of motorsport.
Starting their journey with the Black Lives Matter movement where the seven-time champion agreed to have Vettel’s full support and raise awareness about the matter, he also started raising his voice for the LGBTQ+ communities. The German soon started racing while showing his support with LGBTQ+ stickers on his car and wearing a “Same Love” t-shirt at the paddock.
When the champion was asked whether it would be possible for a gay driver to get to Formula 1 and become a racer and a champion in the sport, Vettel’s answer was in favor of it. He said, “Perhaps it wouldn’t have been the case in the past, but now I think a gay Formula 1 driver would be welcomed, and rightly so.”
Sebastian Vettel puts his foot down over homophobia in the Attitude July/August issue.
“I think a gay Formula One driver would be welcomed – and rightly so.”
See the full cover feature and shoot ➡️ https://t.co/cJ6EoeImxW pic.twitter.com/dFIomCO5xw
— Attitude Magazine (@AttitudeMag) June 8, 2022
“I feel that a gay driver would help to speed up the elimination of prejudice and help push our sport in a better direction. So I think and hope our sport would be ready for one,“, he continued.
As he works closely with the FIA to help make the sport more sustainable, the driver has also started working to make the sport diverse. Meanwhile, Hamilton started his very own Mission 44 to promote diversity in the sport and help bring more people into the sport.
Sebastian Vettel becomes a voice for the Black Lives Matter Movement
The 2020 season was rather chaotic and tragic. With the pandemic hitting the world, the sport could not allow any fan to visit and experience the beauty of racing themselves. Nevertheless, it was also when the Black Lives Matter Movement came to light with many protesting against cops for racial abuse. Hamilton was one of the many who brought this social issue into the sport and had Vettel join him with no hesitation.
The two continued to be advocates for a lot of social causes despite the authorities asking them to stop. Nevertheless, the German stood by the Briton’s side and raised awareness about the situation. He said, “It needs all of us, not just drivers but all human beings around the planet to stand up against racism, inequality and injustice of any form… Education is the only way out of it.”
Seb on the anti-racism message: It needs all of us, not just drivers but all human beings around the planet to stand up against racism, inequality and injustice of any form… Education is the only way out of it.#BritishGP 🇬🇧 #Vettel #SV5 pic.twitter.com/orjjbZ42Yl
— #DankeSeb ♡ (@sebvettelnews) July 30, 2020
The drivers were seen paying tribute to the people who lost their lives during the protest and wore t-shirts with “Black Lives Matter” on them to promote anti-racism and equality among all. Apart from the movement, Hamilton also paid tribute to the LGBTQ+ community by having an LGBT flag on his helmet.