Hamilton, the only Afro-American driver in Formula 1, expressed his pride in the impact he will make with Mercedes during pre-season testing. Alongside the team, they have implemented initiatives to improve diversity, which he considers a 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 advances in promoting diversity within our ranks,” stated Hamilton.
He believes that Mercedes is leading in this aspect compared to other teams, but acknowledges that there is still much work to be done throughout the sport. Hamilton maintains constant communication with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and aims to strengthen his involvement with the organization.
In addition, 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, CEO of Ferrari, who shares his enthusiasm in addressing this issue.
Hamilton’s decision to leave Ferrari, a move he described as fulfilling a childhood dream, surprised the automotive community. Throughout his time with Mercedes, he has established a commission dedicated to exploring ways to improve diversity in the automotive industry and in STEM disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Furthermore, Hamilton and Mercedes collaboratively established the Ignite partnership, which provides financial grants to organizations that promote inclusion and diversity in motorsports and STEM fields. (Source: The Associated Press)
