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Hamilton calls for more diversity in F1

Published on 23 Mar 2018 00:07
7
By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has cried out for more diversity in Formula 1, stating that he feels the sport has changed very little since his debut. The Briton heads into his twelfth season of racing in F1, and starts the year as a four-time world champion.

Hamilton is expected to sign a contract extension with Mercedes soon which could see him become the highest paid British athlete of all time. However, he says that he wants to see more diversity in the F1 paddock, stating there are jobs suited for everybody in the sport.

"There is barely any diversity in F1, still nothing’s changed in 11 years I’ve been here," the 33-year-old said on Instagram. "Kids, people, there’s so many jobs in this sport of which anybody no matter your ethnicity or background can make it and fit in.”

Mercedes had a positive winter testing, emerging out of it once again as the favourites to take both titles this year. However, the boss of the Silver Arrow's, Toto Wolff, claims that there is no time to relax as it faces a big threat from Ferrari and Red Bull.

"Last year, the competition was very close and there was no moment where we could afford to relax. Ferrari put up a very tough fight and we had a proper battle between silver and red. This year promises to bring an exciting three-way fight between us, Ferrari and Red Bull. Everyone in Brackley and Brixworth has worked extremely hard over the past months to make sure we enter that fight with the best machine possible."

Fergal Walsh

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

It's not a diversity problem. It's a money problem. I frankly don't care about the race or skin color of drivers. I do expect them to be the very best and to get there on merit. I'd rather have a grid that's not very diverse but free of pay drivers.

2
Mar 23 2018 - 04:09

F1 News Lewis Hamilton Susie Wolff Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (7)

mcbhargav

Posts: 1,332
LH should become an ambassador for the diversity and take it out to the public. Complaining behind the mike helps none.
- + 0
- Mar 23 2018 - 02:56
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
It's not a diversity problem. It's a money problem. I frankly don't care about the race or skin color of drivers. I do expect them to be the very best and to get there on merit. I'd rather have a grid that's not very diverse but free of pay drivers.
- + 2
- Mar 23 2018 - 04:09
- Pauli
  
  Posts: 140
  I think LH is speak more about people working in teams than only drivers. Even those positions are heavily biased towards European origin people. But maybe one issue here is that F1 teams are based in Europe. It would probably help a lot if two new teams would be setup to Asia (maybe Japan and China?).
  
  I actually think that Chinese government could support a Chinese team if someone managed to sell the idea to them. Support doesn't mean here only direct money but also education programs specifically towards fluid dynamics and advanced material sciences. I think Chine is already ramping up those educations programs to support their military programs but they could gain even more expertise from F1.
  + 0
  
  Mar 23 2018 - 13:21
kngrthr

Posts: 203
You can't force equal numbers of women or people of different race or religion.
it's just something that happens naturally.
I'm living in Kenya at the moment and often I'm the only mzungu around.
should i complain if there are no white people on the bus or in the restaurant or on the beach ?
after all, it doesn't even matter
- + 1
- Mar 23 2018 - 05:59
Barron

Posts: 625
It looks as if he’s hinting at positive discrimination, legally forcing teams to take on a more diverse ethnic mix in their workforces. I could be wrong, I hope so as it breeds resentment on both sides and plainly doesn’t work. Instead of mouthing off however, he could use a tiny part of his huge fortune and set up internships or apprenticeships in F1 for all young people regardless of ethnicity. That would get my vote. It’s probably quite easy to come out with all these groundbreaking social ideas from the comfort of your private jet.
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- Mar 23 2018 - 10:18
2GRX7

Posts: 108
WOW! Interesting to see the responses from people who's nations are going through racial/tribal strife! You can clearly see in the third paragraph of this article, he's calling out to minorities to give this sport a chance when it comes to creating a career-all available positions! Your "dog whistling" is not needed.
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- Mar 23 2018 - 14:27
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Yeah, we need a more diverese viewer base and a more diverse paddock. For once I dont think there is any malice in Hammy's words, there is no talk about "quotation" or anything else we nasty "SJWs" tend to say. A healthy viewer base is a diverse viewer base, and I think the best way to get that is to be more accessible, something Liberty seem to want to be to a certain extent, but not sufficiently to do a real difference. F1 TV had great potential, but deciding to not challenge the UK market and Scandinavian markets was a mistake.
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- Mar 23 2018 - 16:21