Lewis Hamilton Shares Valiant Muhammad Ali’s Gloves in the One Fight That Matters: “In the Same Mould”

Published 12/25/2022, 12:15 PM EST

Muhammad Ali was as much a champion outside the boxing ring as he was inside it. Ali was never afraid to speak his mind on the rights of Black people in America and around the globe. His outspoken attitude influenced Lewis Hamilton growing up and we know how much he is vocal on sensitive issues. A former IndyCar and NASCAR driver praised them both and put them in the same mould.

Willy T. Ribbs is the first ever African-American driver to test a Formula 1 car and drive in the Indianapolis 500. Willy also won multiple Trans-Am championships in the 1980s. His rise in the world of motorsports inspired the documentary on his life called ‘Uppity: The Willy T. Ribbs Story.’

Willy in a 2020 interview praised Muhammad Ali and Lewis Hamilton for their outspoken nature. The Race quoted him saying, “globally, there was no one bigger and there probably will be no one ever as big as Muhammad Ali. Lewis Hamilton and Ali, always stood for right, what is right.”

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“Ali wasn’t afraid. Well, Lewis is in that same mould,” Ribbs added. He also praised other F1 drivers for following Lewis’ lead during the BLM movement. Ribbs continued, “In the end will all be remembered. Not just for their racing prowess. They’ll be remembered for being great human beings.”

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Lewis’s reverence for Muhammad Ali is not secret. In his autobiography “Lewis Hamilton: My Story”, he told how he strives to be like Ali.

When Lewis Hamilton shared Muhammad Ali’s inspirational words

In 2020, Lewis Hamilton shared a snippet from one of Muhammad Ali’s interviews. In the video, Ali talked about how, as a child, he wondered why everything positive and godly was considered white, while everything evil and with negative connotations was black.

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Lewis in the post’s caption wrote, “He’s been one of my biggest inspirations my whole life. A man that knew just what to say. As a black kid growing up in a predominantly white city and country (over 80% white in the UK), it’s hard to be the only one in your class or job. Like all of us, no matter what colour you are, it’s great to have people to look up to. Ali was one of those for me, as well as my dad.”

“He helped me to believe that someone that looked like me could do anything, and that my dreams were achievable, and that’s what I hope to do for the generations after me, and to remove limitations based on race.”

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Ali, throughout his life and even after it, continues to inspire new generations. It is heartening to see his biggest admirer continue his legacy.

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Written by:

Nischay Rathore is a Formula 1 Author at EssentiallySports. Being a law graduate, he has worked at the Supreme Court of India as well as the High Court of Delhi. However, due to his adherent love for sports, he has now set out to start his journey into the world of Sports Journalism.

Edited by:

Pritam Priyedarshi

Lewis Hamilton Shares Valiant Muhammad Ali’s Gloves in the One Fight That Matters: “In the Same Mould”

When Lewis Hamilton shared Muhammad Ali’s inspirational words

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