London (PA Media/dpa) – Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has published his much-anticipated report into improving diversity in motor sport, putting forward 10 recommendations to bring about lasting change within the industry.
The British driver has taken the knee before every F1 race since the beginning of last season while he has persuaded his Mercedes team to paint its cars black in a defiant crusade against racism.
Last year he established the Hamilton Commission and a 14-strong board has returned its findings, asking for a diversity and inclusion charter to be implemented in F1 teams and other motor sport organisations.
Expanding the apprenticeship provision to include higher apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships as an alternate pathway into the sector are among the other suggestions to attempt to draw in under-represented groups to F1.
Paid work placement and work experience schemes, as well as supporting the creation of scholarship programmes to enable black graduates from degrees to progress into specialist motor sport roles have also been proposed.
Time will be taken to digest the «comprehensive and impressive report», according to Stefano Domenicali, but the F1 president and CEO says the hierarchy «completely agree that we need to increase diversity across the sport».
Hamilton said: «Given the right opportunities and support, young people can excel at whatever they put their minds to.
«But our research shows that many young, black people are being closed out of opportunities within STEM (subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and having their full potential limited.»
The board of commissioners – which includes Hamilton’s former boss at McLaren, Martin Whitmarsh – were brought in for their knowledge in subjects such as motor sport, politics, education and engineering.
Their research has highlighted several factors that have contributed towards a situation where only one per cent of F1 employees are from a black background, including hiring practices that favour students from a select group of high-ranking universities and a lack of black role models in STEM teaching positions.
«While I have enjoyed a successful career in motor sport, it’s been a lonely path as one of the few black individuals within Formula One,» Hamilton added.
