Formula 1 launches plan to fight COVID challenges and inequality

Ahead of the return of Grand Prix racing on July 4, Formula 1 has launched the #WeRaceAsOne initiative which is aimed at tackling the fight against coronavirus and condemnation of racism and inequality.

As such, the Austria GP will see teams and F1 partners saying thank you to key workers and individuals by displaying rainbows on their cars and around the track.

F1 will also show visual displays of support in the fight against racism and inequality, with plans to increase diversity in the sport along with a Formula 1 Task Force will be announced later this week.

Chase Carey, CEO and Chairman of Formula 1 said: “Our first race in Austria at the start of July is a big moment for our sport after nearly four months of no racing. While it is an important moment for the Formula 1 community it is also a time to recognize the issues that are bigger than any one sport or country. The #WeRaceAsOne initiative we have launched today, in support of the #PurposeDriven Movement launched by the FIA last week, is our way of saying thank you to the bravery and unity everyone around the world has shown during this unprecedented time.

“It will also be a platform for Formula 1 to come together and achieve results against the most important issues facing us as a sport and the world. That is why at our first race in Austria Formula 1 will stand united to say loud and clear that racism must end. We will show our full support in fighting inequality throughout the weekend and accelerate our own efforts to make Formula 1 more diverse and inclusive. As a global sport we must represent the diversity and social concerns of our fans, but we also need to listen more and understand what needs to be done and get on with delivering.”

This follows Formula 1’s sustainability strategy to make the sport carbon neutral by 2030, improve diversity and inclusion in Formula 1 and support communities with recent events reinforcing the importance of these issues.

So in recognising these key issues which are dominating the post-COVID society, F1 will use the opening race to thank people around the world for their role during the pandemic.

F1 will demonstrate through visual displays that it stands united as a sporting community and are committed to doing more to address inequality and diversity in the sport which will be announced in the Formula 1 Task Force.

On June 21st Lewis Hamilton established the Hamilton Commission, which aims to get more black people employed into STEM subject careers with the objective of having more black faces in Formula 1, motorsport and the engineering industry at large.

Therefore, this announcement today follows in the same vein as Hamilton’s commitment to change the dynamic within our industry so that motorsport is more reflective of modern life. It is realistic to expect the Task Force to include some ambitious pledges when it is announced later this week.