Sebastian Vettel was stunned to listen to System One has eliminated the pre-race ceremony which allowed drivers to take a knee earlier than races, saying the gesture “was getting a bit too robust for the enterprise facet of issues”.

F1 launched the ‘We Race As One’ initiative in 2020 in solidarity with the anti-racism motion around the globe.

Vettel usually joined Lewis Hamilton in utilizing the ceremony to spotlight massive points, notably when he wore an Pleasure rainbow shirt forward of final yr’s Hungarian Grand Prix to protest the nation’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

This week F1 introduced the ‘We Race As One’ ceremony could be dropped in 2022. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali mentioned the championship will look as a substitute to introduce extra concrete actions to fight racism.

It’s unclear whether or not drivers will nonetheless have time to take a knee earlier than races below the present pre-race schedule.

When requested if drivers had been saved knowledgeable about F1’s considering, Vettel mentioned: “No, they simply modified.

“I used to be a bit stunned. I believe the problems that we’re tackling will not be going to be gone inside two years. And due to this fact I used to be a bit stunned.

“I hope that as drivers, we discover a solution to get collectively and discover a slot of nonetheless expressing matters which are vital to us.

“In all probability not all of the drivers care, however I believe there’s some that basically do care. And it will be nice to get collectively.

“However in all probability it was getting a bit too robust and particular person for the enterprise facet of issues.”

The System One season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.

There are two preseason checks scheduled – the primary at Spain’s Circuit de Catalunya, simply outdoors Barcelona, between February 23-25, with the second happening at Bahrain’s Sakhir Worldwide Circuit between March 10-12.