Lewis Hamilton to head commission aimed at increasing diversity in F1

Lewis Hamilton

Six-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is in the process of setting up a commission to increase black representation in motorsport.

The Brit recently hit out at the Formula One community over a lack of racial diversity and described the sport as 'white-dominated' amid the worldwide protests taking place over George Floyd's death in America.

In an article for the Sunday Times, Hamilton wrote about his own personal experiences with racism and said while people were quick to condemn racist gestures like monkey noises being shouted at black sportspeople, they were less inclined to consider the structural issues.

'I've been fighting the stigma of racism throughout my racing career – from kids throwing things at me while karting, to being taunted by fans in black face at a 2007 grand prix, one of my first Formula One races,' he said.

'I'm used to being one of very few people of color on my teams and, more than that, I'm used to the idea that no one will speak up for me when I face racism, because no one personally feels or understands my experience.'

The Mercedes driver said the aim of his commission would be to make the sport 'become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in'.

He said it would be a 'research partnership dedicated to exploring how motorsport can be used as a vehicle to engage more young people from black backgrounds with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and, ultimately, employ them on our teams or in other engineering sectors'.