All ten F1 teams, Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to a new formal Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) charter which commits to improve diversity and inclusion across all organisations in the motorsport sector.
Hamilton’s Drive For Change
The charter is a result of recommendations from The Hamilton Commission in 2021, created with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
“I launched the Hamilton Commission in 2021 to figure out why there were so few people who looked like me in my sport and why it’s been that way my whole life. With the help of the Royal Academy of Engineering, we started answering those questions and created a report outlining what the barriers were for people like me,”
Lewis Hamilton
“This charter is a result of the findings from that report. The impact this can have is massive and I thank the sport for taking on this commitment. For all the teams, Formula 1 and the FIA to recognise the need for diversity is an incredible sign of progress. Can’t wait to see and support all that comes from this.”
The implementation of the charter will be supported by Mission 44, an F1 partner and charity set up by Hamilton himself.
Why Is Change Needed?
Each team and stakeholder in F1 have acted and implemented initiatives to improves opportunity, access and diversity within the sport, particularly in recent years.
The launch of F1 Academy, the introduction of fully-funded engineering scholarships for underrepresented groups and the creation of apprentice and intern schemes are a few key examples.
The D&I charter is a crucial step in agreeing a set of clear, joint principles to maintain momentum with these positive changes, maximising diversity across the sport for years to come.
The Key Focus
The Diversity & Inclusion Charter labels its vision and mission:
The Vision: To enable anyone to access, contribute to, and enjoy global motorsport.
The Mission: Identify and remove barriers to attract and retain a rich diversity of people in our workplaces, improving our ways of working, and engaging with stakeholders to drive innovation.
There are four key pillars of focus to meet this:
Attract: Target and support initiatives that seek to attract underrepresented groups to motorsport. To support this effort, we will gather demographic data in an aligned way to improve our collective talent pipelines and recruitment practices.
Retain: We will put in place processes to mitigate bias in our organisations and create cultures of inclusion so a diversity of people can thrive in our sport.
Create: We will listen to and encourage all perspectives in the design, development, and delivery of our products and services, encouraging our supply chains to do this too.
Engage: We will communicate our commitment to D&I with our external stakeholders: listening, learning, and improving to deliver a better, more inclusive experience.
Wider Thoughts
Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said:
“Our sport is rightly recognised for its elite performance and innovation, and we are clear that the only way to maintain and improve those exceptional standards is to welcome diversity of thought, ideas, and experiences.
“The sport is fiercely competitive, and we’re all committed to employing the very best talent. We know from The Hamilton Commission report that there are opportunities for us to work collectively to both find and nurture that talent, and across the sport significant change has already been put in place.
“The charter is the next important milestone on that journey, and we are all committed to making our sport more open and diverse.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, added:
“The diversification of motorsport is paramount to its continued success. Through ensuring equal opportunity for equal talent, increasing accessibility, and joining together in our commitment to uphold this charter, we will drive forward change.
“This landmark partnership between Formula 1, the teams, and our Federation signifies a united course of action which I am proud to be a part of.”
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“Formula 1 took the findings of The Hamilton Commission in 2021 seriously, and since then the sport has created a range of initiatives to increase diversity.
“This charter, which the sport commissioned us to create independently, sets a framework for progress and establishes commitment to both principles and action. It is a key step in F1’s ongoing efforts to improve access and performance, and we believe it will be a catalyst for even more positive impact and cross-sport working.”
Featured Image Credit: Mercedes AMG-Petronas Formula One Team
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