Carey hails "international superstar" Lewis Hamilton's equality drive

Formula 1

Carey hails "international superstar" Hamilton's equality drive

Hamilton achieved greatness on and off the track in 2020

Ian Parkes

Thursday 24 December 2020 10:56

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Outgoing Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey has hailed "international sporting superstar" Lewis Hamilton for his devotion to driving diversity in the sport.

Hamilton rallied members in the paddock to take part in F1's pre-race 'End Racism' message, whilst also announcing the creation of the Hamilton Commission in order to create opportunities for young people from diverse backgrounds.

Carey, who hands over to Stefano Domenicali in January, has vowed to continue the sport's own strides towards inclusion.

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"Lewis is a giant of our sport and a truly international sporting superstar," he said, in an interview with this writer for The New York Times.

"What he and Mercedes have achieved in the past decade has been phenomenal.

"Off the track, he has the same star status that he has on it and has used his reach and voice to raise important issues such as diversity and inclusion in our sport.

"It’s very important that we reflect the diversity of our fans around the world in the make-up of our sport.

"That is why we are moving forward with plans to improve diversity and opportunity in F1 as well as addressing how our sport can be more sustainable."

Liberty Media and the FIA have been praised universally for managing to organise and deliver a 17-race calendar in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Carey pointed to the completion of the season as a sign of the resolve possessed by all involved in running the championship.

"Obviously, 2020 did not play out as planned for us or the world and our priorities and goals were turned on their head," he explained.

"We are very proud of what everyone achieved and it shows the resilience of everyone involved in Formula 1 that we were the first international sport to restart its season.

"The situation just after Australia was very fluid and uncertain. Around the time we cancelled the race in Melbourne, other sports around the world had to react to the situation, as we did.

"We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy to get a season underway in 2020 but the detailed planning allowed us to restart in the safest possible way."