Daniel Ricciardo has revealed to his mind being blown by the latest shooting by police of a black man in the United States that has led to numerous athletes boycotting sports events this week
The Renault driver has been a staunch supporter of F1's own protests that began in the season-opening race in Austria, and have continued despite the divide over the taking of a knee.
The incident on Sunday, in which Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by police in a town near Milwaukee on Sunday, has led to Ricciardo claiming it to be "heavy" and feeling dismayed.
With matches in basketball, baseball and soccer in the US being postponed, and a high-profile tennis tournament being put on hold for a day, Ricciardo said: "I think seeing the other athletes take this sort of action shows the extent of what it means to everyone and how far it’s spreading.
“You keep hearing about these incidents. When’s it going to stop? When’s it enough? And it keeps seeming to happen and happen.
"So I think that’s why, in the sporting world, a lot of these athletes are now taking more drastic measures and boycotting and stuff like this.
“It’s getting pretty extreme, but I guess until there’s a change, you’re going to keep banging on the door till it falls down, if that’s the best way to say it."
Lewis Hamilton has confirmed he will not be boycotting this weekend's race in Belgium as he does not feel it will "have any effect".
Ricciardo, though, feels further talks are required within F1 to see what, if any, additional steps may need to be taken.
“We have to talk as a group here amongst our sport and the drivers, just have that conversation and see where everyone’s heads at, but it’s obviously still fresh. It’s devastating," added Ricciardo.
“I’m not one to read the news, to be honest, so when I do, like just now, you just shake your head in disbelief. I don’t know how it can keep going on.
"It still blows my mind but if there’s something we can do, of course, I think we will. Let’s try to do something, but we have to have that discussion.”
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Formula1 Group as a whole should just boycott the US.. Scratch the race from the calendar until a) DT gets the boot outta the Whitehouse b) Gun Laws get changed c) Greater Police accountability is enforced... They've proved a Full season calendar can be scheduled without going there, until things change, no more USA Race.. simples
If we are to boycott the US, we should also boycott Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and China, as they have long and current histories of human rights violations. Even some European countries have some less than stellar gistories with their own ethnic.minorities (Catalan, anyone?)
Don't get me wrong, the utter crapfest that is the USA right now needs to get sorted. And if we can stop the essentially apartheid control of the US government by the minority of ultraconservative right wing loonies (they are about 35% of US electorate) we have a chance. Sadly, no guarantees.
Wow Matt and Silk you obviously have no idea what is going on in America and with BLM and Antifa. You spout off about how this and that should be handled but by your comments you reveal you ignorance. I would try to take the time to enlighten you as to the truth, but it seems to me, you are as blinded and indoctrinated as the leftists in America to understand what is really going on. Otherwise you would see that boycotting America is the not the issue, you should rebuke Marxist organizations like Antifa and BLM. You should know that an American police officer is 18.5 times more likely to be killed by a black person than a black person is to be killed by an officer. You should know that blacks make up 13% of the United States population, yet commit 60% of the crimes. But those are facts. And facts don't matter to mindless zombies like you guys that mindlessly follow Twitter check-marks and Instagram social justice warriors.
Riccardo should stick to racing.
Talk about trial by media and opinions from people who do not live there and don’t know anything the police or the black population. If you bothered to watch the video you will see this guy make his first mistake, anytime a cop pulls you over you are clearly told to stay in the vehicle. He got out. He was spotted with a knife, isn’t that the principal murder weapon in the United Kingdom? And o the video a cop is heard telling him to drop the knife, he was then tazed which had no effect and is a sign of being on meth. He reached into the car and one of the cops suspected he was going for a firearm. Here in the USA that is reason enough under the law to fear for you own life and you are legally entitled to use deadly force to protect yourself and others.
So Riccardo why don’t you keep you opinions to racing and not matters you know nothing about just because you are a minor celebrity.
Let’s wait until all the facts are known and if there is a trial it’s a jury that will decide
Here we go again. And dear lord, this time it's Ricciardo. Simple facts for dear Danny:
- The suspect had warrants for his arrest
- The suspect resisted arrest and assaulted officers
- The suspect had a knife in his hands
- The suspect told officers he had a gun and was going to get it from his car
- The suspect went to his car after throwing off the officers
- The suspect was there in violation of a domestic violence order, and committing a new crime
- The suspect refused to comply with officers' lawful orders
- Ricciardo should focus on driving and not American politics where he is woefully out of his depth.
- All drivers should avoid American politics and focus on what they are trained to do, drive, and drive well. You are a racer not an activist. I don't look to you as my moral compass or my ethical sherpa.
Just lost massive respect for this guy. He’s towing the line because he felt guilty when Hamilton called the drivers out.
He is not towing the line... he is just expressing his humanity. He is troubled by the shooting of a man in broad daylight. That makes him a good person.