Seven-time Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has agreed a contract with the Mercedes-AMG team for the 2021 season.
The deal, confirmed by the German company today, will have “one of the sport’s most successful ever collaborations” continue for a ninth consecutive season.
In what’s described as a “significant part” of the deal, the two parties want to build on their pledge to promote greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport by setting up a joint charitable foundation to support the cause.
“I'm excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team-mates,” said Hamilton. “Our team has achieved incredible things together, and we look forward to building on our success even further while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.
“I'm equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations, and I'm grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue.
"I'm proud to say we're taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I'm inspired by all that we can build together and can't wait to get back on the track in March.”
Team principal and CEO Toto Wolff said: “The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we're hungry to compete and add more chapters to it."
After his debut in the sport in 2007 with Mercedes F1 engine customer McLaren, Hamilton joined the Mercedes works team in 2013. Since then, he has won 95 grands prix and seven drivers’ championships, making him statistically the most successful driver in the sport's history.
READ MORE:
Lewis Hamilton knighted in 2020 New Year Honours
Join the debate
Add your comment
This season is the one he wants to win more than any other.
IMO He will definately retire whether he wins (the championship) or not.
I hope he does win.
As to his other agendas in the influencial spotlight, keep up the excellent work.
Oh, I see, he's only doing it if he can bang on about diversity?, haven't we heard a lot about diversity over the decades, as for F1 , well, it might be business as usual, there seems to be no real challenge to Mercedes, there rolling out essentially the same car as lat year with a few permitted mods, as for drivers to challenge Hamilton?, there all in the wrong cars, George Russell to name one is the only potential replacement at Mercedes, but, he'll have to have one Bobbydazzler of a season!
People may have been 'banging on' about it for decade, but that is because it is necessary, it seems now more than ever in the current climate. It takes people in prominent positions 'banging on' to force change. If you feel it's unneccessary you are showing you havent been impacted by the lack of it, or more likely unwittingly benefitted from it, lucky you (and I).
My grandparents were put behind bars in WW2, their Son was made to join the RAF, all because their Country picked the wrong side, now tell me I don't know.
One would hope that he wouldn't need to "bang on about diversity" but, sadly, Haas have just employed a racist with a propensity to violence, homophobia, and a questionable attitude towards women, so clearly it still needs "banging" on about. It shouldn't need pointing out, but hey.
He's also an unremarkable driver (compared to many from F2 that don't have a father that own a £1billion chemical company), so how he got the drive is a complete mystery.
As to Hamilton, good for him. One year suggests either he wants to get the 8th WC and retire, possibly, or, and I hope, he doesn't want to over-commit to Mercedes (nor they to him) if there's a sniff at finishing his career with Ferrari.
I agree, the banging on about it has set racial issues BACK 10 years+ when they were progressing very well of natural accord. Its only promoted division instead of inclusion.Whichever way someone feels about the issues, and I accept many would strongly disagree with my view, I strongly believe politics should be kept out of sport, sport is leisure, God knows everything has been politics, politics, politics, politics for last few years. Can't we just enjoy the good old fashioned concept of gladiatorial contest? man and steel (or carbon fibre) against man in duel. Just because someone has a platform, they don't have to use it.