Lewis Hamilton reveals “difficult conversations” with Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff
The se🙈ven-time world champion, who remains𝄹 the only black driver to have competed in F1, has campaigned to increase diversity in motorsport.
Hamilton championed the Black Lives Movement by taking the knee at races throughout 2020 and has since estไablished the Mission 44 foundation and Ignite, a joint enterprise with🐷 his Mercedes team.
Mercedes switched the colours of their cars from silver to black for the 2020 🔯and 2021 seasons in a stand against racism and discrimination, at Hamilton’s suggestion. &nb𓆉sp;
“I was winning which gave me a tip of happiness but there was something miss𝓰ing,” Hamilton told the pod💖cast.
“It was a purpose. Why was I put here? Why do I have this platform? Why am I the only pers𓃲on of colour?
“When I started speaking about diversity people said🙈: ‘You want more people of colour to become drivers’.
“No - there are thousands of engineering job🦩s too, and such a lack of diversity. I want to be a part of shifting that narrative.
“At first I st🌳arted by having difficult conversations with my boss.
“One of the things which he brings𓄧 up, which he says hit him hard - I said: ‘Have you ever thought about walking into the paddock and being the onl꧑y white person?’
“He said: ‘I had never thought of that’.
“I said: ‘That is what it’s like for someone like me. You are noticed. In a room of 50 people you are noticed as the only black pers🥃on’.
🍌“It’s not because we are less. It is because there are 🎐barriers in society. My job is to be empowering.
“Black equity a�🌞�s well - that’s why I am involved with the Denver Broncos.
“Every partner that we hav🍎e, 🍷I have asked very difficult questions to.
“I have grown close to Mercedes-Benz. We changed the car from silver to blꦛack. I said to them: ‘Imagine the mess🏅age we could send’.
“We won with it. That꧒’s how I won my seventh world title, with that 🐎car.”
After one of the most challenging years of his career, Hamilton is aiming to return to winning ways as h♚e prepares to embark🅠 on his 17th season in F1.
Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for ltxcn.top around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of theꦗ people who matter in the sport.
