F1 News: Lewis Hamilton And Toto Wolff Reveal Impressive Improvement From Mercedes Behind The Scenes

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have revealed the insane improvement from behind the scenes in Mercedes.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff, have brought the focus on diversity and inclusivity to the forefront of Formula 1. At the Forbes Iconoclast Summit, they reiterated the central role diversity will play in the team's success and the sport's popularity.

Hamilton and Wolff have been vocal about integrating more diversity into the sport, which has been a huge passion for the British driver for a long time. The Hamilton Commission, initiated by the driver in 2020, revealed that just 3% of the Mercedes team's workforce were people of colour, and women accounted for a mere 11%. These statistics highlighted the glaring lack of representation within the sport and the team.

However, three years on, Mercedes has shown promising progress. The number of employees of colour has nearly tripled to 8.5%, while the female workforce saw a growth of around 5% to reach 16%. These improved statistics are a testament to the team's commitment to driving diversity in Formula 1. Wolff asserted that this cultural, professional, and intellectual diversity would undoubtedly enhance the team's overall performance.

Further intensifying the drive towards inclusivity, Mercedes launched the 'Accelerate 25' initiative in 2020. This program aimed to ensure that at least 25% of new hires hailed from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, including female and minority candidates. The initiative exceeded its target in the inaugural year, with 38% of new employees originating from diverse backgrounds.

Hamilton's latest enterprise, Mission 44, is designed to increase the inflow of engineers from lower socioeconomic backgrounds into motorsport. Partnering with UBS, Mission 44 aims to foster diversity and inclusion in education by increasing funding for nonprofits engaged in these areas.

Formula 1 has been witnessing a surge in popularity beyond Europe. This trend can also be attributed to Netflix's documentary series, "Drive To Survive," which has played a crucial role in expanding the fanbase, especially among young females, as pointed out by Wolff. The series and the team's initiatives mark a significant stride towards creating a more diverse and inclusive Formula 1 landscape.