Hamilton potentially in hot water with FIA for Breonna Taylor t-shirt

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Lewis Hamilton may have put himself in hot water with the FIA for wearing a t-shirt at Mugello that potentially breaches the governing body's statutes.

Hamilton displayed the black 'Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor' t-shirt before the race and on the Tuscan Grand Prix podium on Sunday, and the Mercedes driver is now "under active consideration" for the public political display according to an FIA spokesperson.

Taylor was a 26-year-old black medical worker who was fatally shot last March by plainclothes policemen in her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky.

The state's attorney general is currently investigating Taylor's wrongful death, triggered when the police officers returned fire after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at them believing they were intruders.

The incident generated protests in the US and around the world demanding that the officers involved in the shooting be fired and criminally charged.

Hamilton admits 'heart and spirit' weighed down by global events of late

It has been customary this year for Hamilton to wear a 'Black Lives Matter' t-shirt during F1's pre-race anti-racism ceremonial, but if the six-time world champion's latest display is deemed to have transgressed the FIA's International Sporting Code, Hamilton could risk a sanction.

Speaking in Sunday's post-race media conference, Hamilton explained his decision to wear the Breonna Taylor t-shirt.

"It took me a long time to get that shirt and I've been wanting to wear that and bring awareness to the fact that there's people that have been killed on the street and there's someone that got killed in her own house, and they're in the wrong house, and those guys are still walking free," Hamilton commented.

"We can't rest. We have to continue to raise awareness with it. And Naomi's being doing amazing, so huge congratulations to her. She is an incredible inspiration with what she has done with her platform.

"We just have to continue to push on the issue."

Mercedes issued a message on social media on Monday, supporting Hamilton's display but also denying any political meaning associated with its driver's message.

"We're not bringing politics into F1, these are human rights issues that we are trying to highlight and raise awareness of. There's a big difference," said Mercedes.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.