F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and 13 other drivers take a knee before Austrian opener

Lewis Hamilton, the sport's only Black driver, an outspoken campaigner against racial injustice and for greater diversity, wore a black T-shirt with 'Black Lives Matter' on the front and 'End Racism' on the back.

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F1 champion Lewis Hamilton and 13 other drivers take a knee before Austrian opener
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton on the grid kneels wearing an anti-racism T-shirt before the Austrian GP. (Reuters Photo)

F1 champion Hamilton takes a knee before Austrian opener

Six times world champion Lewis Hamilton and a majority of Formula One's 20 drivers took a knee on the starting grid before Sunday's season-opening Austrian Grand Prix.

The sport's only Black driver, an outspoken campaigner against racial injustice and for greater diversity, wore a black T-shirt with 'Black Lives Matter' on the front and 'End Racism' on the back.

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Hamilton appeared to be the only driver with Black Lives Matter on his shirt.

Lewis Hamilton was demoted from the front row to fifth on the starting grid for Formula One's season opening Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday after a stewards' review of his qualifying lap.

The Mercedes driver's second place slot was cast into doubt shortly before the race when Red Bull called for stewards to review a decision to take no action against the Briton on Saturday.

The 35-year-old's demotion means Red Bull's Max Verstappen, winner in Austria for the past two years, moves up to the front row with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas on pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris will start third and Red Bull's Alex Albon fourth.