Mercedes F1 team is restarting the 2020 F1 season with a strong statement. The current world champions have released an all-black livery to express solidarity against racism.
Six-time F1 champ Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about being a victim of racism himself, and has said the the sport needs to do more to seize this moment.
Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will wear black overalls this year and the “End Racism” message will feature on both cars.
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, our sport or our team: this is a core belief of Mercedes,” said Team Principal Toto Wolff. “But having the right beliefs and the right mindset isn’t enough if we remain silent.
The british racer has also announced the setting up of a new commission to improve diversity in motorsport, and Formula 1 has launched the #WeRaceAsOne initiative, along with a new Task Force specifically focused at identifying the employment and education opportunities for under-represented groups across Formula 1.
“We want to build a legacy that goes beyond sport,” said Hamilton, “and if we can be the leaders and can start building more diversity within our own business, it will send such a strong message and give others the confidence to begin a dialogue about how they can implement change.”
F1will get a restart this weekend at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg and it will be the first of a double race, with the second being staged the following weekend.
The races have been scheduled for 5 and 12 July, will take place behind closed doors at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg with no fans.
However the sport’s former supremo Bernie Ecclestone, has made a tone-deaf statement during a recent TV interview, where he said “a lot of black people are more racist than white people”.
