Category: lewis-hamilton

Formula One Grid Revealed for 2025 with Six Rookies Joining the Season.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

All 20 drivers have been confirmed for the 2025 season after Red Bull announced the changes within the house for their junior team, Visa Cash App RB, and their team.

Only two Formula One teams remained the same: Mclaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Aston Martin with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

The season’s anticipation began with the Ferrari Hamilton announcement in February 2024.

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jschart visualization

The most significant move of the season was Mercedes’ domino effect, a series of strategic decisions that started with the departure of their lead driver and led to a reshuffling of their team structure.

Ferrari Formula One Driver, Lewis Hamilton said in a statement: “It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.”

Mercedes offered Hamilton a one-plus-one contract without the ambassador deal he wanted.

This was a significant factor in his decision-making process. He earned it in his twelve years with them, which would have allowed him to represent the team after his retirement.

Team Principal for Scuderia Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, offered the Seven World Champion a two-year contract with the ambassador deal.

Hamilton had previously turned down Ferrari’s deal with Mattia Binotto, the previous team principal and current chief operator for Sauber.

Charles Leclerc has been the face of Ferrari since his Formula Two domination. Leclerc will continue alongside Hamilton in the 2025 season, but Carlos Sainz was traded out.

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jschart visualization

With the lead driver out of Mercedes and an empty seat, the team principal of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, chose within the Junior partnership with Kimi Antonelli.

Previously, Mercedes have trailed drivers through Williams Racing before moving them to the AMG Petronas team.

George Russell, who will drive alongside Kimi Antonelli, won his 2018 Formula Two season, while Antonelli only came sixth in 2024.

Russell was promoted to Williams Racing in 2019 and then signed by Mercedes for the 2022 season.

Antonelli skipped this step and went straight to Mercedes AMG Petronas instead of Alex Albon from Williams Racing.

Williams Racing used to be considered a Mercedes Junior Team, but James Vowles has changed that image.

A possible reason why Albon was not promoted in the same way Russell had been years ago.

Sainz spent half the season reviewing his decision, only to be confirmed during the Summer break that he will move to Williams Racing.

He moved to pursue new career opportunities and challenges by adding that his contract could allow him to switch to Red Bull or Mercedes.

Red Bull is known to be harsh on junior drivers; however, Sainz might be considered too competitive compared to Max Verstappen.

Six new rookies enter the Formula One season: Formula Two 2024 Winner Gabriel Bortoleto for Sauber, Formula Two 2024 Runner-up Issac Hadjar for Visa Cash App RB, Antonelli for Mercedes, Bearman for Haas, Liam Lawson for Red Bull, and Jack Doohan for Alpine.

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jstable visualization

Oliver Bearman drove as the replacement in Ferrari for Sainz and Haas for Magnussen.

While Bearman came 12th in Formula Two, he scored seven points in his Formula One races.

After impressively performing in Formula One as one of the youngest drivers ever, Haas signed him for the 2025 season. 

Red Bull announced they would terminate Sergio Perez’s contract with Formula One Reserve and rookie Lawson as Verstappen’s teammate.

Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo as Visa Cash App RB earlier in the 2024 season.

Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner said in a statement: “His arrival continues the Team’s long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme.”

Yūki Tsunoda will continue another season with Visa Cash App RB alongside Formula Two Driver Issac Hadjar, who placed second in the 2024 season.

Tsunoda has out qualified all three teammates, including eight-time race-winner Ricciardo.

The 2025 Formula One season promises to be one of the most highly anticipated seasons yet, with a Seven World Champion redefining his legacy with Ferrari, rising rookies eager to make their mark, and teams embracing change.

Set to commence at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, 2025.

George Russell leads Mercedes One-Two in the Las Vegas Grand Prix 

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

George Russell dominated the Las Vegas Grand Prix from pole to podium, securing Mercedes their 60th one-two finish and setting a new milestone in Formula One history with seven drivers winning multiple races in a single season. 

Russell earned his redemption win in Las Vegas after the one pit-stop strategy at the Belgium Grand Prix in which he was later disqualified in the Mercedes one-two for an underweight car. 

In Las Vegas, he won his third Grand Prix equalising title contender Lando Norris. 

Mercedes Formula One Driver, Russell said in a statement: “We had great pace throughout and we were comfortable in the lead.” 

Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable drive from tenth to second helped Mercedes earn their first one-two finish since Russell’s first Grand Prix win at São Paulo in 2022. 

The Las Vegas podium might mark the final Mercedes one-two for Hamilton and Russell before Hamilton’s highly anticipated move to Scuderia Ferrari. 

Hamilton has achieved 55 out of 60 Mercedes one-two podiums. 

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jschart visualization

The Mercedes cars dominated the free practice weekend, with good timings from Hamilton until practice three, and a continuous top three for Russell. 

Russell dominated by leading 49 of 50 laps, while Hamilton showcased his skills by setting 18 fastest laps as he climbed from tenth to second. 

Hamilton overtook faster cars to drive beside his teammate, including fellow Briton McLaren driver Lando Norris, and Red Bull Championship winner Max Verstappen. 

Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin said in a statement: “Lewis meanwhile outperformed all our simulations today to achieve P2.” 

During the three-week Formula One break, there was a debate over Hamilton’s shelf life from Mercedes, with his departure to Scuderia Ferrari after nine years. 

Hamilton set two new records: his 202nd podium finish and becoming the first driver on the podium at 36 out of 38 different tracks. 

His outstanding performance won the fan vote for Driver of the Day in the same Grand Prix that crowned Max Verstappen World Champion. 

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jschart visualization

The World Championship title has been a long battle this season with multiple race winners, and McLaren having the dominant car. 

Norris placed sixth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix which made it mathematically impossible for the title fight. 

Max Verstappen placed only one position ahead of Norris earning him the points difference for the 2024 World Drivers Championship. 

Verstappen’s fourth World Drivers Championship title equals him with Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel. 

Hamilton and Michael Schumacher maintain the highest amount with seven titles. 

Despite the title loss, Norris continues his fight for second place in the Formula One Championship against Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. 

https://twitter.com/hamiltonprop_/status/1859255665195208816

The mix of the Mercedes drivers at the Las Vegas Grand Prix and the Red Bull World Driver Championship win disprove the long-held belief the faster car always wins in Formula One. 

Norris, driving the fastest car with help from his teammate Oscar Piastri, continued to lead the Constructor Championship for McLaren Mercedes with 608 points. 

Ferrari remains at 584 points with both Red Bull and Mercedes far behind. 

https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.jschart visualization

In the last races of the 2024 season, Hamilton remains the last McLaren driver to win the World Drivers Championship back in 2008. 

As the 2024 season nears the end with only two races left, Mercedes’ resurgence and Hamilton’s endurance in his abilities leave fans and critics wondering what lies ahead for the team without Hamilton and how Hamilton will drive in the Ferrari. 

https://twitter.com/chrissyoriginal/status/1860118073585619274

Are FIA Penalties Consistent? Analysing the Verstappen Rule, Hamilton’s Experiences, and the Future of Formula One.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

Max Verstappen was handed a twenty-second penalty during the Mexico Grand Prix 2024 for leading Lando Norris off the track with his defensive tactics.

This penalty follows a controversial five-second Lando Norris penalty in the Austin Grand Prix 2024.

After the Austin race, the FIA stewards rejected McLaren’s Right of Review Petition, concluding that Verstappen, as the defending driver, was not required to give Norris room to pass.

Max Verstappen has used this FIA grey area, a term used to describe the ambiguity in the rules that allows for interpretation, to his advantage his entire career.

Following the 2016 United States Grand Prix, the FIA clarified its rules regarding defensive driving, commonly called the Verstappen Rules.

These guidelines include:

  • No Moving Under Braking
  • Safe and Predictable Defence

An illustrative example of these rules being applied against Verstappen occurred during the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton executed a defensive manoeuvre against him.

The disparity in how these rules are enforced raises questions, particularly after Verstappen’s twenty-second penalty in Mexico. While some view the penalty as overly harsh, it also prompts speculation about potential agendas.

Following the contentious 2021 Championship, the FIA acknowledged human error in handling race regulations during the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The race director at the time, Michael Masi, was replaced after the late deployment of a safety car led to a disputed finish, significantly impacting the championship outcome of two drivers with 369.5 points.

The order of unlapping during this incident allowed Verstappen to close the large gap to Hamilton, leading to his dramatic final lap pass.

An additional lap with a safety car was not completed, nor was a complete unlapping.

Only five cars were able to unlap under the safety car.

Throughout the 2021 season, the FIA’s penalties played a pivotal role in the competitive and extremely aggressive landscape. A similar scenario unfolded at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Hamilton overcame adversity to win. Had Verstappen faced penalties in Brazil akin to those issued in Mexico, the championship’s outcome could have been vastly different.

Max Verstappen’s unchecked aggression by the FIA would have cost Lewis Hamilton his life at Monza 2021 if not for the invention of the halo (followed by Jules Bianchi’s death in the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix).

This only resulted in a three-place grid penalty. In comparison, Pierre Galsy received a ten-place grid penalty for a new power unit, which almost every driver this season has gone over.

The complex relationship between the FIA and Lewis Hamilton has come under scrutiny, particularly regarding allegations of racial bias. As the first and only Black driver in Formula One, Hamilton’s success story has attracted both admiration and criticism, and the perception of differential treatment raises uncomfortable questions about the sport’s integrity.

Why, then, does Lando Norris receive this special treatment and not Lewis Hamilton?

Is there a desire to end Verstappen’s dominance in the same way as Hamilton’s dominance?

Or is there an underlying racial motivation for removing Lewis Hamilton’s eighth world title, which would have placed him above Michael Schumacher?

The FIA must provide clear and consistent guidelines on defensive driving. The Sport can not afford to have rules open to interpretation or manipulation to serve specific agendas.

Clear guidelines will ensure fair and transparent competition, reassuring fans and participants about the sport’s future.

Leave no Silverstone unturned at Mercedes: Sir Lewis Hamilton wins his ninth British Grand Prix.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

Leave no Silverstone unturned at Mercedes: Sir Lewis Hamilton wins his ninth British Grand Prix, a monumental achievement that will be etched in the annals of Formula One history. This victory is not just a win but a testament to Lewis Hamilton’s resilience and determination, inspiring generations of Formula One enthusiasts, engineers, and drivers.

Seventeen years dedicated to Formula One, seventeen million tears celebrated over Sir Lewis Hamilton’s win at the famous Silverstone track. From his early days as a rookie challenging Fernando Alonso to his recent victory at Silverstone, Hamilton’s career has been a rollercoaster of emotions and triumphs.

On a historical note, this win breaks the record for most wins at a Grand Prix previously held by Michael Schumacher and Sir Lewis Hamilton. However, on a personal note, and Formula One is the most personal sport, we watch drivers race in their younger years, create bonds with other drives, look up to different drives to one day meet them, and watch breathlessly as our drivers crash flying into walls, into each other, into the abyss of lost hope. The words Abi Dubai 2021 hushed in whispers, the burden of failure resting on Lewis Hamilton’s shoulders, the taste of an Eighth World Title which should have been his and in any other race, it would have been enough, it should have been enough. He pulls through, despite every knockback from every race he loses, wondering if he will ever be able to taste the mere essence of an Eighth World Title.

Nine hundred and forty-five days. With such mercy and grace, he is restored to his worthy title and wins Silverstone 2024. In my heart, the rookie who almost won against Fernando Alonso, the man who raises the bar for each driver, the driver who got disqualified in Sao Pablo 21, meaning he started from P20 and finished at P1, the teammate who lets George through for a chance at winning. This skilled man does not let tyre degeneration stop him from defending his position in Bahrain to Oscar Piastri or Fernando Alonso; he alone would never be deemed unworthy of his seat at Formula One. Lewis Hamilton is Formula One; he is bigger than Formula One and enables the future of Formula One through his programs.

Silverstone began as a three-British front row: George Russell, the Mercedes driver, started in P1, followed by Lewis Hamilton, another Mercedes driver, and Lando Norris, the third British driver for McLaren.

If you are new to Formula One, there are five leading teams constantly battling it out in Q1: Aston Martin (Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll), Ferrari (Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz), McLaren (Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri), Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton, George Russel), and Redbull (Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez). In Silverstone 2024, it appeared the two teams battling for a possible 2-1 were McLaren and Mercedes, yet neither got a 2-1 podium.

Silverstone races are a fan favourite for the race course, but more significantly, the swing of podiums due to weather conditions and Silverstone 2024 was no different. Ferrari finished in Q2 and Q3 due to their tyre choices, and frankly, Aston Martin started brilliantly this year mainly due to Fernando Alonso, but the team is crashing hard. Silverstone had four race leaders: George Russell, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Oscar Piastri. The weather changes rapidly affect the type of tyre needed to be quick on the track first and for the driver to have more control over the car in the rain. Around the halfway mark, the weather began to clean up, meaning they needed to change their tyres at a pitstop, but what do you do when both your drivers are in Q1?

a) Duo-pitstop: Take both drivers in and out as quickly as possible. It’s most different to pull off but best in the long run. It’s high risk, high reward.

b) Opt for a pitstop strategy for one driver, leaving the other out until the optimal time for their pitstop. This approach gives the first driver a head start, but the second driver will need to play catch-up with the other drivers already on the grid, adding an extra layer of competition and strategy to the race.

Mercedes made a bold choice, opting for option A, which could have led to a 2-1 podium finish if not for George Russel’s unfortunate DNF due to suspected water system issue. Meanwhile, McLaren once again favoured their golden boy, leaving Oscar Piastri behind to receive new tyres first.

Max Verstappen slowly crept up from the ashes of Silverstone, remaining somehow in p5 for the duration of the race, climbing up as George Russell DNFed, then chased Oscar Piastri after the pitstop error.

Lando Norris could have come second, but he made a fatal mistake. McLaren gave him two options. Imagine you have a seven-world champion leading the race known for his skill at racing in harsh weather and defence and a three-world champion behind you known for his overtaking skills. You can choose soft tyres to battle Lewis Hamilton on soft or medium tyres to fight off Max Verstappen on hard tyres.

Lando Norris made the decision, not McLaren. He opted to try to charge Lewis Hamilton in soft, only to be charged down by Max Verstappen in a Redbull.

A tear shed over the view of Lewis Hamilton, British flag in hand, winning Silverstone, and more blood, sweat, and tears swelled under the moment George Russell met Lewis Hamilton immediately to congratulate him. A man who placed first in qualifying, a Mercedes driver who DNF’d during his home race, and a gentleman who runs over to his teammate, understanding the importance of this race to Lewis Hamilton. Then, anything other than a metaphor of a waterfall of tears would not do the moment with his father justice. A mirror to his loss in Abu Dubai 2021 when Lewis Hamilton could not get out of his car for ten minutes and hugged his father in his realisation that he lost. There was no anger or fight; he was defeated in sadness and disappointed in himself, the system, and the FIA.

Lewis Hamilton kisses the trophy in glistening glory, and the crowds roar, breathing in the legacy imprinted onto Mercedes. He is not merely a footnote or an acknowledgement; Lewis Hamilton is the man who raised the bar and Mercedes and continues to raise himself.

Sir Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari: Power Moves and Crucial Clauses.

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Editor-in-Chief.

Date marked: 16th February 2024

It was a moment that people could only create mere rumours about, a moment that changed the history of Formula 1 and a moment that left Hamilton fans feeling surprised.


Sir Lewis Hamilton will be joining Ferrari in the 2025 season.


The significance of this moment cannot be overstated nor overshadowed by the idea that moving teams is as simple as football. Sir Lewis Hamilton joined McLaren’s young driver programme in 1998, leading him to make Formula 1 history as the first black driver in 2007, and he continued to race with McLaren until 2012. Since then, he has driven for Mercedes and paved the way for various programmes. Mercedes has the highest diversity and the largest number of women employed. Many regarded that Hamilton would never leave Mercedes after winning seven world championships with them.


The move to Ferrari is not as peaceful as just changing cars and mechanics. It also leads Ferrari to no longer renew their contract with Carlos Sainz. Formula 1 teams all have a first driver and a second driver; for Ferrari, that is Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who replaced Sebastian Vettel when he retired, and for Mercedes, that is Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. While Leclerc is a phenomenal driver, one cannot imagine a seven-time world champion would settle for a second driver. Russell needs to be an experienced driver to be considered for the first driver.


It begs the question, why did Hamilton move to Ferrari? Some have pointed out similar patterns to his move from McLaren to Mercedes; both took place one year before regulations changed. Others have decided that Sir Lewis Hamilton is a risk taker, and after the nightmares from the 2023 season with the car from hell, one cannot fault him.
Charles Leclerc and Sir Lewis Hamilton got disqualified together earlier in the 2023 season (read the article here).
Leclerc had noted in a previous interview that when asked what he looks for in a teammate, he answered: ‘Hello, Lewis’.
Similarly, both Vettel and Hamilton have referred to seeing themselves in Leclerc. While Hamilton is a supportive driver to the newer and younger drivers, he has always been extra supportive of Leclerc.


During the Las Vegas opening, Hamilton noted that he is a better teammate and driver than in 2016, vaguely referencing the situation named ‘Brocedes’ with Nico Rosberg. The two teammates and best friends collided, resulting in a crash in 2016, leading to a massive fallout in which Rosberg won the championship.


While I disagree that age matters in sports, Sir Lewis Hamilton will be forty when he drives for Ferrari. It was always considered that Hamilton would stay with Mercedes for the rest of his driving career. However, it was announced they had only signed another two-year contract with Hamilton, possibly due to his age. Thus, Ferrari pounced on the opportunity to sign a seven-time world champion. As far as fans were aware, Carlos Sainz was, without a doubt, resigned from Ferrari. Interestingly, Ferrari has yet to win a world championship since 2007.

As Max Verstappen (first driver for Redbull) notes, the upcoming season may be an ‘awkward’ challenge for Sir Lewis Hamilton while he stays with a team he plans to leave next season. I like to hope Mercedes and Toto Wolff will continue to treat Sir Lewis Hamilton well in their goodbyes of the driver. The upcoming 2024 season begins at the start of March. Until then, we will just have to wait.

Will Sir Lewis Hamilton’s power move be a big enough risk to earn him his rightful eight-time world champion title?

Bibliography-

Benson, Andrew. ‘Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur says signing ‘huge opportunity’ for team.’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68284596 . Published by BBC Sport, 14th February 2024.

Formula One. ‘Leclerc offers reaction to Hamilton being signed by Ferrari as his new team mate’. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.leclerc-offers-reaction-to-hamilton-being-signed-by-ferrari-as-his-new-team.7JfyqJIvP8KI1JXC8BnyDE.html . Published by Formula One, 13th February 2024.

Jackson, Kieran. ‘Max Verstappen reacts to ‘awkward’ Lewis Hamilton move to Ferrari’. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton-ferrari-mecedes-f1-b2497328.html . Published by The Independent, 16th February 2024.

Sky Sports. ‘Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver ’emotional’ preparing for final season with team ahead of Ferrari move.’ https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13071476/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-driver-emotional-preparing-for-final-season-with-team-ahead-of-ferrari-move . Published by Sky Sports, 14th February 2024.

Are the FIA, Once Again, Targeting Sir Lewis Hamilton?

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Editor-in-Chief.

Date marked: 17th November 2023.

Recent FIA punishments for Lewis Hamilton beg the question of is Sir Lewis Hamilton is being personally targeted. From last year’s nose earring fine to crossing the track €50,000 fine to a disqualification. 

Many have suggested that Sir Lewis Hamilton is held to a higher standard as a role model. In comparison to team sports such as football and rugby, Formula One presents itself as a rather personal sport. One might say the cars are an extension of the drivers themselves. While Sir Lewis Hamilton has a team behind him, he is the one who captures the blame in countless news articles. 

In most recent events, Sir Lewis Hamilton finished in second place, merely two point two seconds behind Max Verstappen in Austin and he was later disqualified. The FIA investigated only four out of the seventeen winning qualifying cars, of which half failed the floor regulations. Max Verstappen (Redbull) and Lando Norris (Mclaren) were cleared but Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was disqualified as well. Half the cars that were checked failed regulations it is confusing to why the FIA would not check more cars. Furthermore, the Mercedes and Ferrari teammates’ cars were not checked, did the FIA just not bother checking? Simply from Mercedes and Ferrari, this was an accident of excessively worn-out floors. 

The regulations state that the floor plank holes should only be worn from one mm to nine mm across the weekend. However, given the nature of a sprint race, they had not been able to measure planks since Friday Afternoon. Thus, it is not surprising that they failed the regulations, yet this does not reflect upon Sir Lewis Hamilton himself. 

In comparison, in the Qatar Sprint race, only one car was checked, further in the Qatar GP only three cars were checked and furthermore, none were checked after the Japanese GP. It all seems somewhat bizarre. 

Sir Lewis Hamilton continuously speaks up against the FIA (read the article on the FIA banning political statements at Formula 1 and the effect this could have had on Sir Lewis Hamilton). 

Sir Lewis Hamilton has recently spoken against the FIA’s increasing of fines. The FIA decided after twelve years to increase the maximum fine amount. Not merely by double nor by treble but by quadrupling the amount. This means they can now fine drivers up to one million euros (£871k). Considering Sir Lewis Hamilton is always on the receiving end of these fines it’s no wonder he spoke against this: 

“There’s a lot of money in this whole industry and there’s a lot more that we need to do in terms of creating better accessibility, better diversity, more opportunities for people who don’t or wouldn’t normally have a chance to get into a sport like this – so many causes around the world. That’s the only way they’ll get that million from me.” 

Sir Lewis Hamilton paths the way for change in Formula One and it’s a shame he is constantly met with resistance. 

Bibliography-

Formula One. ‘Hamilton and Leclerc disqualified from United States Grand Prix for technical breach’. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-hamilton-and-leclerc-disqualified-from-united-states-grand-prix-for.10nvuyvEPfMgoeWxWOhw0a.html .Published by Formula One, 23rd October 2023.

Jogia, Saajan. ‘F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Makes Strong Statement After Huge FIA Rule Change’. https://www.si.com/fannation/racing/f1briefings/news/f1-news-lewis-hamilton-makes-strong-statement-after-huge-fia-rule-change-sj4 . Published by Fannation, 20th October 2023.

Kew, Matthew. ‘The can of worms opened by Hamilton and Leclerc’s F1 US GP disqualifications’. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/the-can-of-worms-opened-by-hamilton-and-leclercs-f1-us-gp-disqualifications/10536696/ . Published by Auto Sport, 24th October 2023.

Maher, Thomas. ‘FIA make Lewis Hamilton stance clear after personal attack accusations’. https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-stance-accusations-lewis-hamilton-attack . Published by Planet F1, 18th October 2023.

FIA bans political statements at Formula 1: Sir Lewis Hamilton

Skye Collacott WilliamsonLeave a comment

First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date marked: 24th February 2023.

The new season of Formula 1 begins soon, with much excitement over the latest cars, particularly Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Black Mercedes W14. But unfortunately, it also begins with some new rules, and Sir Lewis Hamilton seems to be the target of these unnecessary rules.

Throughout the years, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have made various political statements through their clothing and even helmets. From LGBTQ+ rights to Black Lives Matter to environmental matters, though their actions have been frowned upon, there has never been a ban before. They have led to an increase in political statements over the last three years.

However, Sebastian Vettel, who drove for Ferrari in his last season, retired after the 2022 season. So, the FIA coincidentally added the ban when Lewis Hamilton is the only racer it affects.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is a driver for Mercedes, previously McLaren, who has won 103 races in his career. He previously discussed racism inside Formula 1, especially at the start of his career. However, unlike most Formula 1 racers, Sir Lewis Hamilton has always used his platform for good and to encourage change.

For the 2022 season, Mercedes’s design for Lewis Hamilton’s helmet had a big rainbow through the top of this overall green helmet. Though amongst the political ban, Mercedes has once again designed a helmet with elements of a rainbow, and it is not as large as the 2022 season. Nevertheless, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are making a stand.

The FIA ban on personal, religious, and political statements may end in fines or even a risk of being banned from racing. Though, Mercedes and Sir Lewis Hamilton are not ones to hide from the risk of a fine.

Sir Lewis Hamilton is not the only racer to speak up about the FIA ban. His Mercedes teammate George Russell has backed up Sir Lewis Hamilton in hopes that this ban will be solved before the 2023 season starts.

The timing of this entire discourse still seems suspicious. Suppose Sir Lewis Hamilton did not have the support of his teammates and a record of seven championship wins. In that case, this ban could end Sir Lewis Hamilton’s career. In previous seasons, he had Sebastian Vettel by his side, who also took risks in making political statements. Now Sir Lewis Hamilton is alone, they have introduced this rule.

Whether in his racing or activism, Sir Lewis Hamilton is not one to back down from intimidation. For example, Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from qualifying in the 2021 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, meaning he began at the back of the grid. Yet, he overtook all positions and ended up winning.

At the launch of the new black Mercedes car on the topic of the FIA political ban. Sir Lewis Hamilton said:

I wasn’t watching the news over the winter, but I have heard it. It doesn’t surprise me, but nothing will stop me from speaking about what I feel passionate about and the issues there are. The sport has a responsibility to speak out on things and create awareness of important topics when we travel to all these places. So, nothing changes.

Not only did Sir Lewis Hamilton make political statements at Formula 1, but alongside Mercedes, they launched a scholarship programme. Ignite partnership aims to increase diversity in racing through increasing support for young girls in motor sport and grants a scholarship to at least ten Black students across 2023 to 2025 academic years. In addition, each year, at least five undergrad students will be given a scholarship for a master’s degree in engineering and much more.

There has been a lot of debate around Sir Lewis Hamilton’s political statements and other sports involvement in political statements. Sir Lewis Hamilton has a platform that many activists can only dream of. He also changes himself, so he should be allowed to express his politics.

Referencing-

BBC Sport. “I am still going to be speaking my mind – Lewis Hamilton”. Andrew Benson. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/64651611

Formula 1. “Hamilton takes victory in Brazil after stunning drive from P10 and pass on Verstappen”. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hamilton-takes-victory-in-brazil-after-stunning-drive-from-p10-and-pass-on.6svQJahOZ1FjwZHX0Zm3Bx.html

Independent. “George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban”. Kieran Jackson. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/george-russell-mercedes-car-launch-fia-political-ban-b2282953.html

Independent. “Lewis Hamilton escapes fine for wearing nose stud but Mercedes pay penalty”. Philip Duncan. https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/lewis-hamilton-fia-british-singapore-grand-prix-silverstone-b2190351.html

Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team. “Ignite Partnership announces inaugural grants to boost UK motorsport”. https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/marsF1/en/instance/ko/Ignite-Partnership-announces-inaugural-grants-to-boost-UK-motorsport.xhtml?oid=189016170

Sky Sports. “Lewis Hamilton: ‘Nothing will stop me’ from speaking out in Formula 1 despite FIA free speech ban”. https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12472/12811775/lewis-hamilton-nothing-will-stop-me-from-speaking-out-in-formula-1-despite-fia-free-speech-ban