Seven-time Method One champion Lewis Hamilton hit out at anti-gay measures enacted by Florida lawmakers and criticised the state’s controversial “Do not Say Homosexual” regulation forward of the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton, F1’s solely Black driver, repeatedly makes use of his platform to talk on problems with social justice and race, human rights and safety of the LBGTQ+ neighborhood. The 38-year-old speaks out whereas racing in nations with questionable human rights information — together with Saudi Arabia — or when a problem arises through which he feels his voice can lend assist.

“It isn’t good in any respect,” Hamilton stated on Thursday. forward of F1’s extremely anticipated race in suburban Miami this weekend. “I stand by these throughout the neighborhood right here. I hope they proceed to face agency and push again. I will have the rainbow on my helmet. It is no totally different to after we have been in Saudi.”

The feedback come simply three days earlier than the primary of F1’s three stops in the USA this season and amid surging curiosity within the racing collection amongst Individuals. The opposite stops are in Austin, Texas, and Las Vegas.

Hamilton usually races with a rainbow flag on his helmet, particularly when F1 stops at venues positioned in nations with restrictive legal guidelines.

Republican governor Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Training invoice into state regulation on the finish of March. The measure, since widened, prohibits public faculty academics to show pupils about sexual orientation or gender id. Though Hamilton is in opposition to it, the Mercedes driver wouldn’t say if F1 ought to keep away from racing in Florida due to its social insurance policies.

“It isn’t for me to determine one thing like that,” Hamilton stated. “I did hear and have examine among the choices which were made in authorities right here and I don’t agree with it and I don’t assist it. I actually do proceed to face with the LGBTQ neighborhood and I am sporting a rainbow flag on my helmet this weekend and I simply actually need to proceed to assist the neighborhood right here and allow them to know I stand with them and I hope they proceed to struggle in opposition to it.

“It isn’t the individuals of Miami which can be making these choices, it is the individuals in authorities and that is the difficulty,” he added. “I believe, hopefully, all I can do — the game goes to be right here whether or not I’m or not — however the least I can do is simply proceed to be supportive and simply being right here and having that on my helmet, hopefully that speaks properly to the topic.”

Earlier than final 12 months’s Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton dipped into the Roe vs. Wade debate and hosted former first girl Michelle Obama in his pit for observe and qualifying.

“I like being within the States, however I am unable to ignore what is going on on proper now and what some within the authorities try to do to the ladies who dwell right here,” Hamilton stated then, forward of the Supreme Court docket resolution to finish the nationwide proper to authorized abortion. “Everybody ought to have the appropriate to decide on what they do with their our bodies. We won’t let that alternative be taken away.”

F1’s governing physique initially of the 12 months stated drivers can be prohibited from talking out on social justice points at occasions. The drivers pushed again and the FIA clarified its place to permit drivers to reply to questions. Hamilton on Thursday was requested about Florida’s legal guidelines, however had beforehand stated he wasn’t going to comply with the FIA steerage.