Merc to race F1 in all-black cars

Brackley (England), June 29: Mercedes announced on Monday that it will race in allblack cars for the 2020 Formula One season as it pledges to fight racism and improve the diversity of its team.

Six-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas will also race in black overalls for the season, which starts on Sunday in Austria after a long delay caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The Black Lives Matter movement has shone a searching light on how much we need new measures and actions in the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination,” Mercedes announced in its colour switch from silver.

Hamilton, who is the only Black world champion in F1, has spoken widely about racism following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month. He plans to create a commission to increase diversity in motorsport.

“It is so important that we seize this moment and use it to educate ourselves whether you are an individual, brand or company to make real meaningful changes when it comes to ensuring equality and inclusivity,” Hamilton said in Monday’s announcement.

Mercedes said that just 3 per cent of its workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups, and that only 12 per cent of its employees are women. “We will not shy away from our weakness in this area, nor from the progress we must still make; our livery is our public pledge to take positive action,” team principal Toto Wolff said. — AP