Lewis Hamilton is the only black driver in the history of F1 to participate in it competitively. Willy T. Ribbs was the first black man to do so in 1985, as he had a test with Bernie Ecclestone’s black team.
From 1985 to 2007, it took 22 years for F1 to give another shot to a black man to compete in the most advanced motorsport. Lewis Hamilton has explained multiple socio-economic factors which generally disable children of colour not to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
That’s why he also opened a commission opened by his name that would try to bring in more people of colour to key positions in motorsports so that the racial obstacle loses significance over time.
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Lewis Hamilton claims racism was the biggest barrier between his dreams
In a video released by BBC, two aspiring F1 drivers visit Mercedes HQs and get to meet Hamilton. One of them asked the seven-time world champion what the biggest barriers between him and his dream were.
“I think the biggest difficulty was the difference in race,” said Hamilton in the BBC video. “Obviously, being the only person of colour on the track apart from my dad. There’s a lack of diversity through the top of big organizations to all the way down, and there’s very little black leadership.”
Hamilton highlights the scary picture of him being the only black F1 driver ever competing for the championship. But he also knows that there are only 20 seats in the sport, so he can’t root for reserving seats for other races.
But he pushes F1 teams to appoint people of colour to positions of influence. That will start a change, at least. That way, the sport would be more diverse and inclusive.
What can be done?
Like Hamilton, the two young race drivers who met him were also of colour. Thus, they asked what could be done to cope with these barriers, as they dream of being F1 drivers one day.
Hamilton admitted that the sport is indeed expensive. However, he informs them that certain groups and individuals want to encourage increased diversity in their spaces.
Therefore, they need to work hard and behave properly off the track. He ends the conversation by saying that there is nothing that the two can’t achieve and wish them luck in their future.
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