Lewis Hamilton's advocacy, through his “Mission 44”, to promote diversity and inclusion in F1, and more generally in motorsport, is bearing fruit.
Today, the FIA, F1 and the 10 championship teams have approved the entry into force of a reinforced charter for diversity and inclusion.
This charter was based on the report of the Hamilton Commission, published in 2021, and which demonstrated the long way that F1 still had to go to become a fully equal and diverse sport (whether we are talking about women or minorities , or finally people with disabilities). The conclusions of the charter even take up most of the recommendations of the work launched by the Mercedes F1 driver.
This charter also benefited from the assistance of experts, those from the Royal Academy of Engineering, at a time when only one in three engineers in the world is a woman.
Beyond the programmatic aspects, this charter also includes, and in a very interesting way, a concrete implementation component. Lewis Hamilton's Mission 44 will also support this implementation.
To implement this charter, the FOM announced the transformation of the current Formula 1 Diversity and Inclusion Working Group into an “implementation group”. Said group will be “responsible for launching new initiatives, formalizing the collaborative approach to sport and introducing measurable projects with key performance indicators and defined deadlines. » In short, to have something concrete.
“Formula 1 recognizes that diversity plays a crucial role in bringing new perspectives, driving innovation, enriching culture and improving economic outcomes, in a sport that relies on relentless performance” testified the FOM in a press release.
Concretely, by signing this charter, all the actors, therefore all the teams, are committed “to support and implement measures to build a more diverse and inclusive workplace. »
Of course, F1 does not start from scratch: the launch of the F1 Academy, but also the multiplication of scholarships and apprenticeship programs, have made it possible to change mentalities and obtain concrete progress.
The charter is based on four pillars:
- Attract: Target and support initiatives to attract underrepresented groups into motorsport, collecting demographic data to improve our recruitment practices.
- Takeaway: Establish processes to mitigate organizational bias and create inclusive cultures, allowing diverse people to thrive.
- Create: Encourage all perspectives in the design, development and delivery of our products and services, incentivizing our supply chains to adopt the same practices.
- Engage: Communicate our diversity and inclusion commitments with our external stakeholders, listening, learning and improving to deliver a more inclusive experience.
Domenicali welcomes the (r)reports of the Hamilton Commission
Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and CEO of Formula 1, was delighted with the signing of this charter:
“Our sport is rightly recognized for its elite performance and innovation, and we are clear that the only way to maintain and improve these exceptional standards is to welcome a diversity of thoughts, ideas and experiences. »
“Sport is fiercely competitive, and we are all committed to employing the best talent. We know from the Hamilton Commission report that there are opportunities to work collectively to find and cultivate this talent, and across sport, significant changes have already been implemented. »
“The charter is the next important step on this journey, and we are all committed to making our sport more open and diverse. »
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, who certainly has something to apologize for on these subjects, added:
“The diversification of motorsport is paramount to its continued success. By ensuring equal opportunities for equal talent, increasing accessibility and committing together to this charter, we will drive change forward. »
“This historic partnership between Formula 1, the teams and our Federation represents a common approach of which I am proud to be part. »
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, Director-General of the Royal Academy of Engineering, concluded thus:
“Formula 1 took the findings of the Hamilton Commission seriously in 2021, and since then the sport has created a series of initiatives to increase diversity. »
“This charter, which sport has entrusted us to create independently, establishes a framework for progress and demonstrates a commitment to principles and actions. This is a key step in F1’s ongoing efforts to improve access and performance, and we believe it will be a catalyst for even greater positive impacts and interdisciplinary collaboration. »
