Yes, the sport is mostly white but it’s NOT racist

LEWIS HAMILTON’S video footage was a shot of paddock life that lasted only a few seconds. But had he turned his phone’s camera on the same scene at any time over the next few days it would have told the same story. It is not entirely correct to say that nobody of non-white heritage goes inside the gates of Formula One’s inner sanctum, but those who do are the exceptions. A random mechanic, the occasional man on the door of a hospitality area and a single black driver in Hamilton (there have been one Indonesian and two Indian racers.) It’s 11 years since Hamilton made his debut, but even his success has not ushered in an influx of creeds and colours. It is still mostly white, mostly European and mostly male. That might be a reflection of the sport’s traditional territory. It might also tell a story of the limited demographic of engineers at universities. I do not believe for a moment that there is ingrained racism. I have hardly ever — though not never — heard comments of a racially prejudicial flavour in my time covering the sport, dating back to before Hamilton’s entry. It will be interesting to see if a change trickles through. We also wait with interest to see the ethnicity of the ‘grid kids’ who replace grid girls this weekend. Will they reflect a change of direction?