F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Calls For Huge Change - "Has To Be Diverse From Top Up"

Formula 1 needs to be a more diverse space, says Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton has stressed the need to make Formula 1 more diverse from the "top down," thus suggesting that a change is needed to include people from minority backgrounds in the sport. 

The seven-time-world champion has often raised his voice to bring about more diversity in F1. In 2019, he set up the Hamilton Commission which seeks to address the under-representation of black people in the UK's motorsport scene, including the STEM sector. 

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Until today, Hamilton is the only black driver to have raced in Formula 1. In a positive turn of events though, Jessica Hawkins became the first female driver last month in five years to test an F1 car. Susie Wolff was the last female racing driver to participate in the Grand Prix weekend at the 2015 British GP.

Speaking about the changes that sport is yet to witness, Hamilton revealed that change needs to come from the top of the sport. He told the media:

“I feel like we need to amend the criteria actually, and make sure that there's an opportunity for real impact, really making sure that if there is a new team, they have to be diverse.

"They have to perhaps create an opportunity for a female driver to come through. And it has to be diverse from the top up.

"At the moment, it’s all white owners. And there's a real lack of diversity from the top down. It's all male, and that needs to change.

Speaking of change, Hamilton welcomed the idea of the addition of an eleventh team to the grid after Andretti Cadillac's bid to become a part of F1 was approved by the FIA. He added:

“It wasn't that I support Andretti.

"I think from a driver's perspective, it's exciting to potentially see more cars [on the grid].

"Then the idea of an 11th team… we have over 2,000 people in our team. So that's a huge amount of jobs.

"But we have to make sure that the criteria, which is quite strict is really respected," he concluded.

However, Andretti Cadillac is yet to receive a green light from the FOM to race in 2026.