Lewis Hamilton: “Black Lives Matter. Last year some of us took a knee back in support of equality that I am proud of. My question is, what lies ahead? The inequalities are within our sport. and within the world continues. ”
By James Galloway
Last updated: 26/02/21 1:18 pm
Lewis Hamilton has asked the question “what now?” In the fight for equality into 2021 and declared: “As long as I have air in my lungs, I will continue to fight to change everything I do. “
The seven-time F1 champion has been a powerful and progressive voice in the Black Lives Matter movement and has challenged his own sport and industry to do more to develop diversity. Hamilton kneeled consistently ahead of last season’s races, with a dozen drivers joining him regularly.
In a post on his social channels along with an image of participating in the peaceful Black Lives Matter protest in London last year, Hamilton wrote: “Black Lives Matter. Last year some of us took a knee take support for equality of which I am proud.
“My question is, what’s next? The inequalities within our sport and within the world continue.
“Change is still needed. We must continue to push to hold ourselves and others to account. We must continue to fight for equality for all, to continue to see real change and permanent in our world. “
Earlier this month Hamilton, who was knighted on the New Year’s Honors list, signed a new one-year Mercedes contract to continue in F1 and as part of the agreement the two parties are forming a charitable foundation with the goal is to develop diversity within motor sport.
The 36-year-old launched the Hamilton Commission last year to investigate the barriers to people from underrepresented backgrounds entering motorsport.
In his social media post, Hamilton said: “As long as there is air in my lungs, I will continue to fight for change in everything I do.
“I work to create pathways and opportunities for children of color, within the sciences, engineering and creative fields.
1:56 New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the drive for diversity and the WeRaceAsOne campaign will remain a ‘top priority’ for the sport in 2021.
“Let’s keep pushing. What do you promise?”
F1 has said it will continue to allow drivers ahead of time to show key messages with the sport reinforcing the We Race As One campaign this year.
Stefano Domenicali, the new president of Formula 1, also said that drivers had the voice and platform to be “ambassadors” in shedding light on key issues in society.