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LONDON: Ater equalling Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s record seven F1 titles, Formula One’s first Black driver and champion Lewis Hamilton says he is confident his sport has a bright and more diverse future, but that he would not take his foot off the accelerator in pushing for even more change.
The Mercedes racer, who has now 94 wins, ater smashing the German’s records for most career wins, told Reuters Television in an interview that he also looked forward to more success with a team that has dominated the past seven years.
Britain’s most successful F1 driver said: “This year there has been this awakening.”
The 35-year-old, who sealed his seventh title, and sixth with Mercedes, ater winning in Turkey last weekend, added: “Already it has sparked a change but it’s really important that it’s not just symbolism.”
Hamilton, who made his F1 debut in 2007, recalled looking around the Australian Grand Prix paddock in Melbourne at the start of last year and posting images on Instagram of the startling lack of diversity he saw.
“And then I got to the end of the year and I saw all the photos of all the teams... and there were three or four people of colour within that seting and I remember thinking: ‘How has that not changed at all since I’ve been here?’
“It isn’t a surprise when you think of the people who have led our sport, the comments they’ve come out with this year,” added Hamilton.
Hamilton did not name any names but he has been strongly critical this year of former F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, now 90, for suggesting the sport did not have a problem with racism.
He has also hit back at former champions Mario Andretti and Jackie Stewart, both in their 80s, for their reactions to his campaigning stance.
Hamilton said the sport had gone “leaps and bounds’ in breaking down barriers and opening up a dialogue this year.
“You’ve seen (F1 chairman) Chase Carey putting money towards the movement, we’ve seen the (sport’s governing) FIA doing more. So I think the future’s bright but I’ve got to stay on top of these people,” he added.
“We’ve all got to stay on top to make sure that change really follows.”
Hamilton this year set up a commission of experts to help increase the representation of Black people in British motorsport, while F1 has rolled out an anti-racism campaign.