Seven-times F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has slammed F1’s “bulls**t” decision to reprimand Sebastien Vettel for wearing a rainbow-colored T-shirt to shows his support the LGBTQ+ community during pre-race national anthem session.

Vettel support expressed T-shirt read ‘Same Love’, was summoned by the stewards following Hungarian GP race and the German was one of four drivers (Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, and Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll) reprimanded by officials. Lewis calling it ‘bulls**t’ before adding that he will wear the same shirt next time.

In a now-deleted Instagram story, Hamilton showed his support of Vettel and said next time he would join him.

“Super proud of this guy,” Lewis wrote. “There is no rule that says what colour shirt you can wear and supporting the LGBTQ+ community is not reprimandable. This is bulls**t.

“Well done, Seb. I’ll join you next time with the same shirt.”

Hamilton later updated his post, adding: “Love to see this Seb supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Love always wins.”

FIA explain controversial reprimand of Vettel

Explaining the pre-race procedure, FIA race director Michael Masi said: “Earlier this year, following discussions internally with the FIA and F1, we clarified that we wanted to keep giving the drivers the ability to have the moment to show their support for WeRaceAsOne however they chose to.

“But then the national anthem for a particular country should be respected with all drivers wearing their race suits.

“So it was clarified and made very clear that once that moment was displayed and drivers showed their recognition, they would have to remove their shirt or anything else they wore and go to the national anthem in their race team uniform.

“That has been the same for a number of events now and this has been the first event where it has happened since.

“All of those drivers that kept their shirts on – it wasn’t just Sebastian, it was four or five drivers – received a non-driving reprimand for failing to follow the race directors’ instructions.”

Vettel dismisses reprimand, says he ‘would do it again’

“It is a non-driving reprimand,” he added. “You look at all penalties on the basis of what they are and reprimands are the lowest penalty other than a warning which really, is not a penalty.

“A non-driving reprimand, you need to have two driving reprimands and one non-driving to ultimately get to a grid penalty but as an example, three non-driving reprimands doesn’t have that impact.”

Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel shows his support for the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community by wearing a rainbow-colored t-shirt top highlighting the title ‘same love’, ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

But following the Hungarian GP, Vettel and other three driver Lance Stroll, Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Bottas were all called by race stewards for failing to remove their t-shirts during the anthem, and all four were given reprimands.

FIA regulations states that the drivers are allowed to carry a message during the pre-race ceremony, as long as they’re in line with the ‘We Race as One’ initiative, but the clothing must be removed for the anthem.

Vettel was vocal for much of the weekend in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I heard it’s because I left the [rainbow] shirt on for the national anthem,” Vettel told Sky F1.

“I’m happy…they can disqualify me. They can do whatever they want to me, I don’t care. I would do it again.

“When you see how many people are still messing with that, it’s not the worst thing if we have to leave this planet at some point.

“We all stand before the race where we have all these nice slogans and yet it seems to be a problem for some people.

“Sad world in some regards, but if it helps for supporting those people who suffer in countries that are part of the EU, I’m happy to express my support.”

The German made an impressive race at Hungary to finish on second place originally, Vettel was later disqualified from his second-place finish, after failing to provide a fuel sample at the end of the race. Aston Martin intend to appeal the decision.

Following chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull RB16B damage was such that “Mick Schumacher had more downforce” in the race.

Red Bull RB16B continued sizeable damage, most notably to the bargeboard and floor, slow down his performance across the rest of the race. The bargeboard serves as a purely aerodynamic function, helping to smooth and redirect airflow.

“Let’s just say I should think Mick Schumacher had more downforce,” said Horner.

“[Verstappen] drove his heart out, earned one point, that could be crucial at the end of the year.

Sergio Perez – Damaged Car

“Thankfully Mercedes made a howler strategically today, Fernando Alonso looked like he was driving for Red Bull as well, so the damage was limited compared to what it could have been.”