Hamilton Dedicates F1 Pole Position to Chadwick Boseman

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts after the qualifying session prior to the F1 Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (AP)

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18:19-29 August 2020 AD ـ 11 Muharram 1442 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

18:19-29 August 2020 AD ـ 11 Muharram 1442 AH

Hamilton Dedicates F1 Pole Position to Chadwick Boseman

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain reacts after the qualifying session prior to the F1 Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (AP)

After clinching the record-extending 93rd pole position of his distinguished career, Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton stood proudly on top of his all-black Mercedes and crossed his arms in memory of a hero of his own.

The British driver dedicated his latest exceptional drive at the Belgian Grand Prix to American actor Chadwick Boseman, who died of cancer on Friday at the age of 43.

“A superhero died last night so that was really weighing heavy on me today," Hamilton said. “I was so driven to deliver a good performance today so I could dedicate it to Chad.”

Boseman played Black American icons Jackie Robinson and James Brown before inspiring audiences as the regal “Black Panther” in Marvel’s blockbuster movie franchise. The film inspired the cross-armed “Wakanda forever” salute that became a pop culture landmark.

“This was an important pole. I woke up today to the saddest news of Chadwick passing away,” Hamilton said. “That news broke me, so it wasn’t easy to get back focused. For what he’s done for our people and super heroes — to show the kids what’s possible in life. Wakanda forever.”

The salute was so resonant that California congresswoman Maxine Waters stood up and did it at singing legend and civil rights activist Aretha Franklin's funeral two years ago.

Hamilton, the only black driver in F1, explained the impact both Chadwick and his film character had on him.

“I was really, really lucky I got to meet him once and tell him how awesome he was. Because I remember when I was a kid, Superman was the hero, didn’t look like me and I still thought Superman was the greatest,” Hamilton said. "And so when Chad became the king, when he became a superhero, it was such a special day for so many people. Because I know that young kids would be able to now look up to him and see that it is possible.”

Boseman's death prompted an outpouring of grief and Hamilton fondly recalled the time they met.

“In New York during Fashion Week … we were out at the same dinner. We actually kind of partied away together because we were on the same table. It was an incredible scenario,” Hamilton said. “I remember when ‘Black Panther’ came out and I’m a huge Marvel fan. So just knowing how Hollywood has been for a long, long time and to see the first Black superhero come out, everyone was so proud.”

Alec Baldwin Talks His Love for ‘Peanuts’ and the ‘Immeasurable’ Effects of His Trial

Alec Baldwin, left, and a person dressed as the character Snoopy from "Peanuts" poses for a portrait to promote the 75th anniversary of "Peanuts" during Comic-Con International on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in San Diego. (AP)

08:38-26 July 2025 AD ـ 01 Safar 1447 AH

Alec Baldwin Talks His Love for ‘Peanuts’ and the ‘Immeasurable’ Effects of His Trial

Alec Baldwin says the year since his trial suddenly ended with a dismissal has been far better than the few years that preceded it, and the effect that time has had on him has been "immeasurable."

"Something as powerful as that happens in your life, you don’t know how much it changes you," he said. "I can’t even tell you how different I am from three-and-a-half years ago. And what I want and what I don’t want, and how I want to live my life and not live my life."

The 67-year-old actor spoke to The Associated Press at San Diego's Comic-Con International, where he was part of a panel on 75 years of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts," whose simplicity, existential philosophy and moral outlook have been very much on his mind.

Baldwin spoke while a suited Snoopy character stood nearby after posing for photos with him.

In a foreword Baldwin wrote for "The Complete Peanuts 1977-1978," he said while reading Schulz's newspaper comic strip every day as a child, he realized Charlie Brown, more than anyone, wanted the things he wanted.

Chief among those wants are "the desire to have friends and the desire to hold your friends close to you."

That hasn’t changed in the years since.

"Come on, what man my age doesn’t relate to Charlie Brown? If Charlie Brown was 67 years old, he’d be me, but he wouldn’t have been stupid enough to have seven (small) children," he said with a laugh.

But he aspires to the qualities of a different character.

"Lucy. I want to be Lucy. Lucy is in charge. She’s got it all figured out," he said. "She pauses for a moment of self-awareness, but not too long."

Baldwin said he admired Schulz's simple line drawings combined with the real circumstances of the characters, embodied by real children's voices when the animated holiday specials emerged in his childhood.

"It’s so complicated and simple at the same time, which is what I think makes it beautiful," he said.

And he admired Schulz's willingness to embrace melancholy, and deeper darknesses, in stories about inner struggle that needed no villains.

"A dog sitting on top of a dog house would have the same impact on you as, like, Nietzsche," he said, looking across the room at Snoopy. "They should have named the dog Nietzsche."

Baldwin's career has had several distinct phases. Early on he played tough husbands and boyfriends in supporting roles including "Married to the Mob" and "Working Girl." He moved on to heroic leading man in "The Hunt for Red October" and "The Shadow."

Downshifting to memorable character parts, he showed his gift for manly speeches in "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "The Departed," and his comedy prowess in seven seasons of "30 Rock" and as a constant host and guest on "Saturday Night Live."

In July 2024 his trial in New Mexico on an involuntary manslaughter charge in the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western "Rust" fell apart halfway through. A judge dismissed the case on allegations authorities withheld evidence.

"I can’t believe that happened on that day the way it happened," he said. "And it couldn’t have been better for us in certain terms because of the malice and so forth and everything that’s embodied in that whole situation."

The next phase is uncertain. He says he's "just trying to move forward with my wife and my family."

He and wife Hilaria and their seven small kids recently appeared on the TLC reality series "The Baldwins."

He says he has successfully sold his young ones on "Peanuts," especially the Halloween and Christmas specials, as he did with his now nearly 30-year-old daughter Ireland when she was young.

He notices their personalities zig-zagging between the traits of Schulz's characters.

"They’re Charlie Brown, now they’re Snoopy, now they’re Schroeder, now they’re Linus, now they’re Pig-Pen," he said. "They’re Pig-Pen most of the time, I must say."

And their house is full of themed toys.

He keeps a small Snoopy figure among the things in his office, a reminder to try to maintain "love, kindness, patience."

"Peanuts are still kind of like, in that zone," he said. "Let’s just try to be good people."

Hamilton Dedicates F1 Pole Position to Chadwick Boseman

Hamilton Dedicates F1 Pole Position to Chadwick Boseman

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Alec Baldwin Talks His Love for ‘Peanuts’ and the ‘Immeasurable’ Effects of His Trial

Alec Baldwin Talks His Love for ‘Peanuts’ and the ‘Immeasurable’ Effects of His Trial

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