Lewis Hamilton urges Formula One bosses to improve diversity and abolish racism

Formula 1 is finally underway after the longest lapse in its racing history.

However, the sport returns to not only provide us with exhilarating racing action but also to provide us with fresh perspectives and a brand-new pledge to allow for an improvement of diversity in the world’s second greatest sporting program.

The initiative has taken shape amidst the current global protests around the world in support of Black Lives Matter and the resulting focus that has shone a light upon racism and discrimination within sports.

These changes have also resulted in the redesigning and renewing of several of the team’s liveries, obviously the most striking being the Mercedes Benz teams, formally known as ‘Silver Arrows’, which usually sports a striking silver and teal colour scheme has rebranded to an all-black scheme in support of the BLM movement.

Spearheaded by current F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, the #WeRaceAsOne initiative was launched last week, along with a new Task Force specifically focused at identifying the employment and education opportunities for under-represented groups in motorsport.

The SPARK that got the wheels turning

Hamilton, the first-ever Black superstar in Formula 1 history, is really taking the lead on this new approach to the sport. He has already started by pulling together racing teams, the authoritative body of Formula 1, its CEO’s and organisers as well to get involved in this revolutionary change in motorsport history.

The six-time world champion has always been vocal of his support with the worldwide movement that is #BlackLivesMatter, and the spark in this now raging fire was first lit when news broke out of the murder of George Floyd and the resulting protests against Police Brutality that ensued.

It began with a post on Instagram on Lewis’ feed during this charged time, condemning the acts of violence against George Floyd and garnering the support of his fellow drivers to speak up and support the fight against inequality which has now resulted in a revolutionary step in the right direction.

View this post on Instagram

This past week has been so dark. I have failed to keep hold of my emotions. I have felt so much anger, sadness and disbelief in what my eyes have seen. I am completely overcome with rage at the sight of such blatant disregard for the lives of our people. The injustice that we are seeing our brothers and sisters face all over the world time and time again is disgusting, and MUST stop. So many people seem surprised, but to us unfortunately, it is not surprising. Those of us who are black, brown or in between, see it everyday and should not have to feel as though we were born guilty, don’t belong, or fear for our lives based on the colour of our skin. Will Smith said it best, racism is not getting worse, it’s being filmed. Only now that the world is so well equipped with cameras has this issue been able to come to light in such a big way. It is only when there are riots and screams for justice that the powers that be cave in and do something, but by then it is far too late and not enough has been done. It took hundreds of thousands of peoples complaints and buildings to burn before officials reacted and decided to arrest Derek Chauvin for murder, and that is sad. Unfortunately, America is not the only place where racism lives and we continue to fail as humans when we cannot stand up for what is right. Please do not sit in silence, no matter the colour of your skin. Black Lives Matter. #blackouttuesday ✊?

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on

Speaking to SkySports F1 in an interview, Lewis Hamilton opened up about his experiences in the sport and the racism as well as hardship that he had to face in his early stages in racing as a young up and coming Black driver in a majority white sport.

“It was very much like at school, there are 1500 kids and of which a handful are Black, and therefore you feel quite alone. You’re led to feel like you don’t particularly fit into society and the situation is the same in Formula 1” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.

But he personally believes that Formula 1 can be a driver for change in the status quo.

He added: “The sport wants to build a legacy that goes beyond sport and if we can be the leaders and can start building more diversity within our business, it will send a strong message and give others the confidence to begin a dialogue about how they can implement change.”

A Change in colour

Lewis Hamilton and his team-mate Valterri Bottas will sport new helmet designs in support of this positive change while Hamilton has also been influential in getting his Mercedes team to show their support by changing their famous silver livery to a Black design for 2020.

In a video released on his social media, Hamilton’s new lid incorporates a contrasting purple and black design and the powerful message of the BLM movement.

The two drivers will also adorn black race suits this year, instead of their usual white, an empowering symbol of the team’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination.

In a strong show of corroboration to the initiative, a number of other teams too have made changes to their liveries in support of Formula 1’s #WeRaceAsOne initiative.

By Randev Jayasinha

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