Lewis Hamilton is a passionate advocate for greater diversity and inclusivity in motorsport and in general. He tells us that he will continue his efforts in this area after he joins Ferrari in 2025.
Throughout his illustrious career at Mercedes, Hamilton has consistently used his platform to address the lack of diversity within the sport, both on and off the track.
It all started with the Hamilton Commission, a report that highlighted the systemic barriers faced by underrepresented groups within motorsport.
This was followed by the establishment of the charity Ignite, co-founded by Hamilton and Mercedes. The aim is to enable people from different backgrounds to pursue a career in sectors that are relevant and connected to motorsport.
The charity initially partnered with Mission 44, Hamilton’s personal foundation set up to tackle the lack of diversity in education in Britain.
During the negotiations about his switch to Ferrari, Hamilton is also said to have explicitly emphasized this. Conversations with Ferrari chairman John Elkann have come to light that specifically addressed this crucial topic.
“Of course, if you look at Ferrari, they have a lot of work to do, so I already made that a priority in my conversation with John,” Hamilton explained. “And they are also super excited to participate in it.”
First of all, I am extremely proud of the work we have done within Mercedes, says Hamilton. Since 2020, we have made some very big steps in improving diversity within the team.
For example, within the HR group we have a diverse group and that will continue beyond me, something I am very proud of.
“I think we are ahead of any other team in that respect, there is still a huge amount of work within the sport, which I am constantly speaking to Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of F1, and looking for more collaboration with Formula 1.
Founded in December 2021, Mission 44 has raised £11.2 million in donations, with Lewis Hamilton personally providing £7 million in funding
Written by Vincent Bogaerts