Mercedes: A foundation with Lewis Hamilton
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING The late announcement of the contract extension is not primarily for financial reasons. The new agreement includes a joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport. Next March, Mercedes-Benz and Lewis Hamilton will embark on their ninth Formula 1 season together. A crucial part of the new agreement builds on the joint commitment [...]
Next March, Mercedes-Benz and Lewis Hamilton will embark on their ninth Formula 1 season together. A key part of the new agreement builds on the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that Lewis and Mercedes made last year.
This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation. Its aim is to support more inclusion and diversity in all its forms in motorsport.
Always with Mercedes engines
Lewis Hamilton started out in 2007 with the Mercedes engine customer team McLaren, with whom he won his first world championship title in 2008. Since then, he has been powered by Mercedes-Benz racing engines in all of his 266 Grands Prix.
The seven-time world champion joined the Mercedes works team in 2013. The 36-year-old Briton has won 74 race victories and six of his seven drivers' titles with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. Last year, he broke Michael Schumacher's record for victories.
More diverse for future generations
The new GP record winner is not only interested in further sporting success.
Lewis Hamilton: "I am equally determined to continue on the path we have started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations. I am grateful that Mercedes has so strongly supported my call to address this issue. I am proud to say that we are stepping up efforts further by establishing a foundation for more diversity and inclusion in our sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together."
The next step
For team boss and managing director Susie Wolff, who lives in Ermatingen on Lake Constance and works for the Mercedes customer team Williams F1, it was always clear that the contract would be extended.
Toto Wolff: "However, the extremely unusual year 2020 has meant that it has taken a while to complete the process. Together, we have decided to extend our sporting relationship by one year and also to launch a longer-term project to take the next step in our joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in our sport. Lewis' track record is one of the best ever in our sport and we value him as an ambassador for our brand and our partners."
Hungry for success and warm-hearted
The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Markus Schäfer, also sees other qualities in the most successful racing driver of our time.
Markus Schäfer: "He is a warm-hearted person who cares about the world around him and who wants to make a difference. Mercedes-Benz shares this sense of responsibility and we are proud to commit to establishing a new, joint foundation to promote diversity in motorsport. Opening up the sport to under-represented groups is important for its continued development and we are determined to make a positive contribution."
