Hamilton: Andretti's criticism of my anti-racism stance 'is plain ignorance'

Reigning Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton fired back at Mario Andretti on Monday after the racing legend said the Black driver's stance against racism is "pretentious."

"This is disappointing but unfortunately a reality that some of the older generation who still have a voice today cannot get out of their own way and acknowledge there is a problem," Hamilton wrote on Instragram, according to ESPN. "This is plain ignorance but that will not stop me from continuing to push for change."

Hamilton has been vocal in supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and wants to see F1 and FIA - racing's governing body - do more to raise awareness. Andretti believes Hamilton is becoming too political.

"I have a lot of respect for Lewis, but why become a militant?" Andretti told Chilean newspaper El Mercurio last week. "He's always been accepted and he's earned everyone's respect.

"I think the whole point of this is pretentious. I feel that way. And it's creating a problem that doesn't exist. Painting the car black ... I don't know what good it will do."

Andretti also likened Hamilton's stance to the finding of a noose in the racing stall of Black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace. The FBI later concluded the rope in question had been in the stall since October.

"I wish politics didn't get mixed up with sport," said Andretti. "There's a time and a place to express your opinions. What happened in NASCAR with Bubba Wallace became bigger than it should be.

"What seemed to be a terrible situation was finally not. It was disproportionate and without reason. That happens when you think about politics before anything else."