Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is to set up a commission to increase black representation in motorsport.
Hamilton, who previously said he felt “so much anger, sadness and disbelief” after the death of George Floyd, has spoken widely on race in light of protests following the killing in Minneapolis.
He wrote in The Sunday Times that racism was “only too familiar to me” and said while people were quick to condemn racist gestures like monkey noises being shouted at black footballers, they were less quick to address structural issues.
“I’m used to being one of very few people of colour on my teams and, more than that, I’m used to the idea that no one will speak up for me when I face racism, because no one personally feels or understands my experience.”
The Mercedes driver said the aim of his commission would be to make the sport “become as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in”.
The 35-year-old Hamilton posted #BlackLivesMatter to his 5.7million Twitter followers following the death of Mr Floyd, with his post featuring a video of a young black American girl in tears about inherent racism in society.
He then went on to post an apparent criticism of F1 colleagues on his Story, saying: “I see those of you who are staying silent, some of you the biggest of stars yet you stay silent in the midst of injustice.
“The way minorities are treated has to change, how you educate those in your country of equality, racism, classism and that we are all the same!”
He wrote in the paper that the “institutional barriers that have kept F1 highly exclusive persist” adding that the thousands of people employed in motorsport need to be more representative of society.
“Winning championships is great, but I want to be remembered for my work creating a more equal society through education”, he added.
