Formula 1 race car driver Lewis Hamilton was heavily criticized on social media for refusing to remove his ball cap during a tribute for Justin Wilson on Sunday.
Wilson, 37, is a British-born driver who died in a fiery car crash on August 23.
Hamilton and 19 other Formula 1 drivers observed a 1-minute moment of silence for Wilson before the start of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
#MonzaGP Lots of #badass comments – Hamilton not removing his hat during the Wilson tribute. #notcool @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/VQJ52mie0O
— Germyl (@GermylF1) September 6, 2015
Many of Wilson’s grieving fans took to social media to roast Hamilton for failing to “show respect” by removing his cap during the tribute.
Hamilton late & on his phone on way out for Justin Wilson's minutes silence & didn't remove his hat. Why do so many people like him so much?
— Stu Jones (@stujones55) September 6, 2015
Hamilton was forced to apologize even though a few fans believe the 30-year-old Mercedes Team driver did nothing wrong.
“I don’t get how removing your hat shows respect any more than actually bowing your head while being silent,” wrote commenter Ruth Naomi Bell on the Eurosport blog.
As it turns out, Lewis kept his cap on because he didn’t want his newly bleached blond hair to take away from Wilson’s emotional tribute.
Hamilton and Bajan singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty, 27, have been dating steadily for 2 months.
Rihanna’s ex-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, also wears his hair dyed bleach blond.
Controversy seems to follow every man Rihanna dates who bleaches his hair blond.
Photos: IPA/WENN.com
