Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has responded to accusations of racism that he says have b🌳een direᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚcted towards him on social media.

Leclerc is one of several drivers who has opted against ‘taking a knee’ at the op⛎ening four rounds of the delayed 2020 seaso🌟n during F1’s anti-racism demonstrations held prior to races.

And the Monegasque has revealed he has received criticism for his actions and subsequently be𒅌en made out to “sound like a racist”. Leclerc stressed he supports F1’s anti-racism stan𓆏d, saying “racism is disgusting”.

“It is very sad to see how some people manipul༒ate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist,” Leclerc said on Twitter. “I am not racist and I absolutely hate racism. Racism is disgusting.

“Stop putting me in the same group as these disgusting people that are discriminating others because of their skin colour, religion or gender. I’m not part of them and I never will. I’ve al෴ways 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.”

Speaking in Thursday’s FIA press conference ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix a𝓀t Silverstone, Leclerc explained his tweet, adding: "I just don’t want to be judged anymore.

“As I’ve said many times I’m active on social media and I don’t accept to be called the waಌy I’ve been called in the last few weeks negatively obviously just because of not kneeling.

“I wanted to make a straightforward tweet just to express 𒆙my feelings and that’s it.”

It is very sad to see how some people manipulate my words to make headlines making me sound like a racist.
I am not racist and I absolutly hate racཧism. Racism is disgusting. 1/3

— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc)