Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton says that Formula 1’s nine other teams must do more in the fight against discrimination, particularly in terms of affecting change in their own workplaces.
Hamilton, who comfortably won Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix from pole, took a knee before the race and raised his fist on the podium afterwards as part of his continued support for the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.
Asked afterwards about the recent progress the sport has to improve diversity, the Briton suggested there was still a long ways to go.
“We’ve seen Red Bull’s mechanics take a knee, which I think is great, but as businesses and as teams…if you look at Ferrari who have thousands of people working with them, I’ve heard no word of Ferrari saying that they hold themselves accountable, and this is what they’re going to do for their future,” the World Champion driver told reporters.
“And we need the teams to do that. We need Formula One and the FIA to be more leading in those scenarios, saying ‘hey guys, all of us together, everyone needs to pull together and fight for this.’
“I think a lot of people don’t know what the problem is,” added Hamilton, who has set up a commission to push for equal opportunity and more diversity in motorsport. “Some people deny there is a problem.”
As part of his own personal efforts, the six-time world champion has started The Hamilton Commission, with the explicit goal of improving diversity in motorsport, but says many still lack an understanding of why such a measure is necessary.
“I think a lot of people don’t know what the problem is. Some people deny there is a problem,” he explained. “And that’s ultimately why I put this commission together.
“Because everyone has their opinion but I really want to get to the bottom of it so when we’re putting money into towards something, we know it’s going to change it the root cause. That’s the goal.”