F1 ready to act on "comprehensive" Hamilton Commission report

Lewis Hamilton at the Austrian Grand Prix — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 1

F1 ready to act on "comprehensive" Hamilton Commission report

Lewis Hamilton launched his namesake commission in 2020

Sam Hall

Tuesday 13 July 2021 01:01 Updated: 01:24

Formula 1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged "there is always more to do" after the Hamilton Commission published its report to accelerate change in motorsport.

The Hamilton Commission report, a project led by the Royal Academy of Engineering, found "only 1 per cent employees in Formula 1 are from Black backgrounds" and highlighted 10 key areas that F1 can improve upon to increase this figure.

These include:

- Removing apprentice schemes from the F1 cost cap to allow greater accessibility.

- The creation of scholarship programmes to enable Black graduates from degrees in engineering and allied subjects to progress into specialist motorsport roles.

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- That Formula 1 teams [and other Motorsport organisations] take the lead in implementing a Diversity and Inclusion Charter for motorsport to commit the sector to improve diversity and inclusion across all organisations.

- The development of best practice guidance for STEM inspiration and outreach activities to enable inclusive engagement with Black students in schools, and with those who influence them.

- That additional STEM activity support be provided to supplementary schools that are led by Black community groups across the UK.

Reacting to the recommendations, Domenicali said: "The Hamilton Commission has delivered a comprehensive and impressive report that shows the passion Lewis has for this very important issue.

"We will take the time to read and reflect on all of the findings, but we completely agree that we need to increase diversity across the sport and we have taken action to address this and will be announcing more actions in the coming days.

"We want a sport that is representative of our hugely diverse fan base and that is why Formula 1, the FIA and all the teams are working hard to deliver on our detailed plans to create positive change across the sport.

"There is always more to do and the report will stimulate thoughts about further actions that are required."

Hamilton "proud" of report

The report is the culmination of 10 months work for Hamilton and his team with the recommendations merely the tip of the iceberg.

In total, the report is 179 pages long with focus placed not solely on F1, but on the education system in general and ways to open doors to STEM subjects at school and in further education.

After revealing the commission's findings via a lengthy report, Hamilton said: “I am proud to have published The Hamilton Commission report, Accelerating Change: Improving Representation of Black People in UK Motorsport, alongside The Royal Academy of Engineering.

"Through this report, I feel that we have a clearer understanding of what is preventing the motorsport industry from being truly representative. I believe our ten recommendations will be the first step in addressing them and bringing long overdue change to the sport."