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Mercedes has announced it will run an all-black base livery for the 2020 Formula 1 season as a public pledge to improve the diversity of the team.
Over the last handful of weeks, the Black Lives Matter movement has gained recognition around the world with protests calling for equality and social justice.
Lewis Hamilton, who is entering his eighth season with Mercedes, has been very outspoken on the matter on social media, urging other parties in F1 to speak up in support of the movement.
MORE: Mercedes: We stand with Hamilton following racial injustice comments
MORE: Hamilton: Ecclestone's comments on racism 'ignorant and uneducated'
As part of the new black livery, the slogan 'End Racism' will feature on the halo of both cars, while the #WeRaceAsOne logo will be featured on the mirrors of the W11.
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, our sport or our team: this is a core belief at Mercedes,” said team principal Toto Wolff.
“But having the right beliefs and the right mindset isn't enough if we remain silent. We wish to use our voice and our global platform to speak up for respect and equality, and the Silver Arrow will race in black for the entire 2020 season to show our commitment to greater diversity within our team and our sport.
“We will not shy away from our weaknesses in this area, nor from the progress we must still make; our livery is our public pledge to take positive action.”
Hamilton has backed the new-look car, and offered praise to Mercedes for understanding the issue and showing a willingness to make changes amid the situation.
“I have personally experienced racism in my life and seen my family and friends experience racism, and I am speaking from the heart when I appeal for change,” he said. “When I spoke to Toto about my hopes for what we could achieve as a team, I said it was so important that we stand united.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to Toto and the Mercedes Board for taking the time to listen, to talk, and to really understand my experiences and passion, and for making this important statement that we are willing to change and improve as a business.
“We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport, and if we can be the leaders and can 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 has also promised to launch a 'Diversity and Inclusion programme' by the end of the year that will see it continuing to listen to and raise the awareness of team members, carry out forensic analysis of the recruitment and development processes, collaborate with key stakeholders to improve F1's accessibility and target education initiatives to “encourage and support talented people from under-represented backgrounds who aspire to reach F1”.
Mercedes says three per cent of its organisation comes from minority ethnic groups while 12% are women.
Nice idea, but why not instead simply slap one of the racial* equality symbols onto the car instead? That way, you'd include all ethnicities instead of just "the blacks"? That'd be woke AND more correct, since there isn't one black race* but many, and skin colour is just one factor in it.
*This is where I'll add that science is yet to conclude whether there are human races or if we are all too similar to differentiate that way, but since that's the popular term that is what I'll use.
I guess this is what it takes for Mercedes to change their livery...
As to your other point... I think the wokest of them all would call you a racist and request you check your white privilege. This is not about equality
The "black" livery does, in fact, cover all people of color. It's a diversity and inclusion programme addressing the lack of diversity, not only in the team, (with just 3% of its workforce identifying as belonging to a minority ethnic group) worldwide. Black , brown, red, yellow, all fall under a history of Systemic racism. And no- I don't think you're aggressively racists-I felt you were simply asking a question, calle.itw (@AJ)!
@AJ hehe, first my dislike for Hammy, of course just based on his skin colour, and now this. Next I'll be donning Hugo Boss suits and start driving a Merc'! ;)
@2GRX7 I didn't, and it might be, but under the ongoing movement it isn't, nor will it be interpreted as such. May I remind you that Merc' is sooo inclusive they didn't flag for pride for their middle eastern divisions. Like Bethesda and the lot. Classy, standing up against opressed minorities.
@AJPennypacker - You always seem defensive with regards to any talk of racism-like ANY! It's your prerogative, but consider how the more entrenched you become, the more upset you're going to get down the road. Consider checking this person out... www.youtube.com/watch?v=45ey4jgoxeU . She's keeps it lite!
Hey I actually love the livery! I really wanted them to change it for a long time. As to your other point... I have not problem with any talk about racism. I applaud the initiative to create awareness, but I Wil forever decry and criticize the opportunistic moral posturing of some. I despise the notion of participating in a social movement as a means to advance your brand (personal or otherwise). I will also call out the hypocrisy of a movement that supposedly cares about black lives but doesn't care about Darfur. At least not in practice.
What's some celebrities and companies have done with this movement, amounts to going to a refugee camp to take selfies.
I also completely reject the idea that criticizing the political component of the BLM movement is automatically racist. That's preposterous.
Nearly all Mercs are silver or black so at least it makes them more road relevant. Complex and diverse subject, what percentage of the ethnic mix in question are interested in motor sport? What percentage of job applicants to Merc. F1 are of ethnic minority, What percentage of engineering graduates in the requisite fields? You don’t see the same discussions coming up about track athletes, heavy weight boxers, basketball ball players, etc. etc. where the tables are often reversed? Where are the ‘colours’ to represent any/all other minorities. There is hateful repression of so many ethnicities and religions all over the world, who speaks up for them in F1. To answer a point below, how is this black livery covering all colours?
Guess what; the percentage of POC that like motorsports is in line with percentages of whites, although traditional NASCAR fans have not created a welcoming environment, thereby, creating "closet" fans of color. I'm thinking that perhaps the line of questioning should be framed with, are the PATHS to such working environments the SAME AS those of white people? Are the Historically Black Colleges/Universities, POC S.T.E.M. candidates afforded the same recruiting efforts as the IVY Leagues/traditional tech schools? You don't see the same amount of initiative of traditional, "school sports". I'm sure one can see why Tennis, Golf could be placed on this "list" of lock outs due to costs and traditional land allocation of said events. Hateful repression does occur all over the world and Black Lives Matter encompasses all POC in repressive environments-not just the U.S.
PS. I like the livery more than the silver, being an ‘old timer’ reminds of my early love of the JPS Lotus
@Calle, too close (now I’ve looked). Surely they could have chosen a different ‘stripe’ colour? Maybe Hammy is subtly angling for a move to Jag FE if this season bombs for him? In fact, it looks eerily similar to Merc EQ FE, I think they just had some black left over from EQ FE and had to use it up!
It seems crazy that things have gotten so divisive that you can get banned from many social media sites simply for saying that all lives matter. I respect MB for standing behind Hammy and what he is doing in trying to raise awareness, and even more importantly raising awareness that just because we don't feel racist, that is not enough. The issue needs to be addressed on a social level where racism is just taken for granted or worse, simply ignored.
That being said, forget the politics, I like the livery. Black is an awesome color for a race car even if it's not politically motivated. I like it!
What about Bottas, will he come up with a white livery? Why not? Doesn't Valtteri's life matter too?
Not a fan. Mercs should be silver and Ferrari red. It won't go down as a classic design but I guess this isn't about fashion design.
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First world problems.