INSIDER
01
LEWISHAMILTONTACKLES
SOCIALJUSTICELewis Hamiltonhasmoveddecisivelyto u se the full
weightofhis star powerto add momentum to theBlack
Lives Mattermovement. Both theFIA and Formula 1
have responded with initiativesto pr omote diversity , and
Hamilton himself has teamed up with the Royal Academy
of Engineeringto launch a ‘Hamilton Commission’ with
the aim of making motorsport “as diverseas the complex
and multiculturalworld we live in”.
Using a self-pennedarticle in theSundayTimesas a
platform fromwhich toannouncethe project, Hamilton
added:“the time for platitudes and tokengestures is over”.
Against awider tapestry of revulsion over the killing
of George Floydunleashingwaves of social unrest and
protests again inequality, Hamilton first spoke up via
his social mediachannelsto ‘call out’ the motorsport
community over itssilence on the matter –then became
more strident andactive. Other drivers and teams
responded byexpressingtheir support – but, this being
social media, thefeedback from the public occupiedthe
full width ofthe spectrum, from accusations of tokenism
to declamations that “sport and politics should not mix”.
This, andthe fac t that so manybodie s and individuals
within the motor racingcommunity felt unable or
unwillingto exp ress theirposition until given avery public
nudge, indicates the scale of the culturalmountain to
be climbed. Hamilton alsoaddressed this in hisSunday
Timesarticl e, saying, “I’mused to being one ofvery
few people of colour onmy teams and, more than that,
I’m used to theidea that no one will speak upfor me
when I faceracism, because noone personally feels or
understands my experience.”
The partnership withthe RAE aimsto encourage more
young black people to study STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineeringand Maths) subjectsinsc hool, openingthe
way to greaterrepres entation inmoto rsport.
“Despitemy successinthe sport,the i nstitutional
barrierstha t ha vekept F1hi ghly exclusivepersist,” said
Hamilton.“I hope that the Hamilton Commission enables
real, tangible andmeasurable change. When I lookbackin
20 years, I want to see the sportthat gave a shy, working-
class black kid from Stevenage so much opportunity,
become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world
we livein. Winningcha mpionshipsisgreat, butI want to
be remembered for my workcreating a more equal society
through education.”
In June, theFIA launcheda ‘#PurposeDriven’ initiative
at its inauguralSport and Mobility eConference, attendedF1JOINS
HAMILTON’S
DIVERSITYPUSH
PICTURES
01
18 GP RACING JULY 2020
INSIDER
01
LEWISHAMILTONTACKLES
SOCIALJUSTICELewis Hamiltonhasmoveddecisivelyto u se the full
weightofhis star powerto add momentum to theBlack
Lives Mattermovement. Both theFIA and Formula 1
have responded with initiativesto pr omote diversity , and
Hamilton himself has teamed up with the Royal Academy
of Engineeringto launch a ‘Hamilton Commission’ with
the aim of making motorsport “as diverseas the complex
and multiculturalworld we live in”.
Using a self-pennedarticle in theSundayTimesas a
platform fromwhich toannouncethe project, Hamilton
added:“the time for platitudes and tokengestures is over”.
Against awider tapestry of revulsion over the killing
of George Floydunleashingwaves of social unrest and
protests again inequality, Hamilton first spoke up via
his social mediachannelsto ‘call out’ the motorsport
community over itssilence on the matter –then became
more strident andactive. Other drivers and teams
responded byexpressingtheir support – but, this being
social media, thefeedback from the public occupiedthe
full width ofthe spectrum, from accusations of tokenism
to declamations that “sport and politics should not mix”.
This, andthe fac t that so manybodie s and individuals
within the motor racingcommunity felt unable or
unwillingto exp ress theirposition until given avery public
nudge, indicates the scale of the culturalmountain to
be climbed. Hamilton alsoaddressed this in hisSunday
Timesarticl e, saying, “I’mused to being one ofvery
few people of colour onmy teams and, more than that,
I’m used to theidea that no one will speak upfor me
when I faceracism, because noone personally feels or
understands my experience.”
The partnership withthe RAE aimsto encourage more
young black people to study STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineeringand Maths) subjectsinsc hool, openingthe
way to greaterrepres entation inmoto rsport.
“Despitemy successinthe sport,the i nstitutional
barrierstha t ha vekept F1hi ghly exclusivepersist,” said
Hamilton.“I hope that the Hamilton Commission enables
real, tangible andmeasurable change. When I lookbackin
20 years, I want to see the sportthat gave a shy, working-
class black kid from Stevenage so much opportunity,
become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world
we livein. Winningcha mpionshipsisgreat, butI want to
be remembered for my workcreating a more equal society
through education.”
In June, theFIA launcheda ‘#PurposeDriven’ initiative
at its inauguralSport and Mobility eConference, attendedF1JOINS
HAMILTON’S
DIVERSITYPUSH
PICTURES
01