Lewis: F1 must seize moment in racism fight
STAR SPEAKS OUT AS BLACK CAR IS UNVEILED
LEWIS HAMILTON has urged Formula One to “seize their moment’ in the fight against racism – as his Mercedes team made a powerful statement by unveiling an all-black car for the new season.
The Silver Arrows will be switching the colours of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas’ cars to black for the 2020 campaign which gets underway in Austria this weekend. Defending world champion Hamilton and Bottas will also race in black overalls with both drivers adapting their helmet designs. The call to ‘End Racism’ will feature on the halo of Mercedes cars, while the united F1 initiative #WeRaceAsOne will be featured on the mirrors of the W11 – which was originally designed to be silver before Mercedes unveiled their new look yesterday. Hamilton said: “When I spoke to Toto Wolff about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was so important that we stand united.
“It’s so important 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. “I have experienced racism and seen my family and friends experience racism, and I am speaking from the heart when I appeal for change. “We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport, and if we can be the leaders and start building more diversity within our own business, it will send such a strong message and give others the confidence to begin a dialogue about how they can implement change.” Mercedes revealed: “Just three per cent of our workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups and only 12 per cent of our employees are women.” And in a bid to continue their fight for equality, the world champions will launch a Diversity and Inclusion programme.
“We wish to use our voice and our global platform to speak up for respect and equality,” said team principal Wolff. “We will not shy away from our weaknesses in this area, nor from the progress we must still make.”