Lewis Hamilton will stay in Formula 1 to fight against racism and climate change

The newly crowned seven time world racing champion, Lewis Hamilton, has confirmed he will compete for a while longer, and continue to fight for equality and sustainability.

The 35 year old stormed to victory in Sunday’s (15 Nov) dramatic Turkish Grand Prix, securing a record equalling seventh world championship. This officially made him the sport’s most successful racing driver in history.

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Through a chaotic 2020 season, Hamilton has become a figurehead of Formula 1’s anti-racism campaign, using his platform to raise awareness for social injustice and climate change issues.

"We have had this awakening this year, and people are starting to be held accountable and holding themselves accountable and realising that is not a bad thing”, he told BBC Sport.

“I am not going to stop fighting for that and then in my part time maybe I'll keep racing for a little while."

No news of contract yet

All eyes remain firmly on Mercedes after Sunday, with neither Hamilton, or Team Principal, Toto Wolff, revealing any news on the future of the driver’s position at the team.

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Hamilton is currently out of contract at the end of season, but has said he wanted to clinch the driver’s championship before undergoing contract talks.

He commented, "I wanted to put it aside and wait until the job is done," but stressed that he is still focused on the remaining three races of the current season.

"It's not done. But we will get it done, I'm sure,” the driver said.

Totto Wolff added, "There isn't any pressure. I see us going for more next year. Maybe putting another great year on and we have this tremendous challenging regulations change for 2022. So we'll go for a while.

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"He loves racing and the competition, as does the team and myself. If we wouldn't have the competition against the stopwatch, life would not be as fun.”

A fight for equality

After matching Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships, the British driver said he hoped the achievement “sends a message to kids that it doesn’t matter where you come from, whatever your background, it is so important to dream big.”

The altered 2020 Formula 1 season arrived as Black Lives Matter marches took place across the world, following the death of George Floyd. As a result, the sport introduced its We Race As One campaign, on the eve of the first race.

Lewis Hamilton has been a vocal advocate for increasing diversity within Formula 1 and the motorsport industry.

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The driver said, "If you are looking at places, industries that you don't see someone of the same background as you or the same ethnicity, or the same religion, create your own path.

"That is what I have been able to do. It has been so tough. Tough doesn't even describe how hard it's been.

"I have walked this sport alone as being the only black person here or the only person of colour here.”