Hamilton, the sole African American driver in Formula 1, expressed his pride in the impact he will make with Mercedes during preseason testing. Together with the team, they have implemented initiatives to enhance diversity, which he considers a top priority in his future collaboration with Ferrari.
“I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made within the Mercedes team. Since 2020, we have made significant strides in promoting diversity within our ranks,” Hamilton stated.
He believes that Mercedes is leading the way in this aspect compared to other teams, but acknowledges that there is still much work to be done within the entire sport. Hamilton maintains constant communication with F1’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, and aims to strengthen his involvement with the organization.
Furthermore, Hamilton emphasized the need for improvement at Ferrari, stating that they have a substantial amount of work ahead. He has already made it a priority to engage with John Elkann, the executive chairman of Ferrari, who shares his enthusiasm for addressing this issue.
Hamilton’s decision to leave Ferrari, a move he has described as fulfilling a childhood dream, came as a surprise to the racing community. Throughout his time with Mercedes, he established a commission dedicated to exploring ways to enhance diversity within the motorsports industry and in STEM subjects, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In addition, Hamilton and Mercedes collaboratively established the Ignite partnership, which provides financial grants to organizations that promote inclusivity and diversity in motorsports and STEM fields. (Source: The Associated Press)