Hamilton stays focused on diversity

Lewis Hamilton will continue to push for more diversity within Formula 1 when the seven-time champion moves to Ferrari next year. Hamilton, the only Black driver in F1, said Friday at preseason testing that he was proud of the legacy he would leave with Mercedes after he and the team developed diversity initiatives together, and that it would be a priority in his work with Ferrari. “I’m immensely proud of the work that we’ve done within Mercedes. Since 2020 we’ve made some really great strides in improving diversity within the team,” he said. “I think we are ahead of every other team in that respect, and there’s still a huge amount of work within the whole sport. I’m speaking to (F1 chief executive) Stefano (Domenicali) constantly and looking to work more with F1.” Hamilton won six of his seven world titles with the Mercedes team after joining in 2013, and his decision to leave Ferrari — a move he’s said will be a “childhood dream” come true — shocked the sport. During his time at Mercedes, Hamilton set up a commission to investigate ways to improve diversity in the motorsports industry.