Ferrari's Leclerc objects to being called racist for not kneeling

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is fed up with being called a racist for not kneeling before Formula One races and objected to the label Thursday on Twitter.

"It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist," Leclerc began his tweets. "I am not a racist and I absolutely hate racism. Racism is disgusting."

Leclerc continued: "Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating others because of their skin color, religion, or gender. I'm not part of them and I never will. I've always been respectful to everyone and that should be the standard in today's world.

"And to whoever is using my image to promote their wrong ideas, please stop. I'm not into politics and I don't want to be involved in that," he concluded.

The 22-year-old is one of seven drivers who have decided not to kneel alongside peers such as Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc - who's worn an "End Racism" T-shirt along with other drivers, including those who stood - explained the reasoning behind his tweets.

"As I've said many times, I'm active on social media, and I don't accept to be called the way I've been called in the last few weeks negatively obviously just because of not kneeling," he said during a virtual press conference Thursday, according to ESPN. "I wanted to make a straightforward tweet just to express my feelings and that's it."

Before the season began, Leclerc explained why he chose not to take a knee.

"I believe that what matters are facts and behaviors in our daily life rather than formal gestures that could be seen as controversial in some countries," he said.