Lewis Hamilton has vowed to “just keep fighting” as the administration of United States president Donald Trump has ramped up efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) programs. Over the first month of his second presidency, Trump has prioritized rolling back these initiatives through a series of executive orders that have drawn widespread criticism.
Since taking office on January 20, Trump’s administration has implemented measures that include banning terms such as ‘disability,’ ‘ethnicity,’ ‘gender,’ and ‘women’ from select government websites and reviewing research grants featuring those words. Additionally, the government has threatened to withdraw federal funding from institutions, including schools and colleges, unless they eliminate programs designed to support minorities, including individuals with disabilities. Further actions include imposing restrictions on transgender individuals in the military, sports, bathroom access, and visa applications.
Hamilton, a longstanding advocate for Black and LGBTQ+ communities in the Formula 1 paddock, has been following these developments with concern. However, he remains steadfast in his mission to support marginalized groups and push for positive change.
“I’m not going to change what [Trump] does, or the government does—all I can do is try to make sure that in my space, in my environment, I’m trying to elevate people,” Hamilton told TIME. “There are always going to be forces along the way that don’t want that, for reasons I can’t fathom. That doesn’t stop me. It is a fight that we’ll just keep fighting.”
Hamilton’s commitment to diversity and inclusion intensified in 2020 after he noticed a striking lack of minority representation in a Mercedes team photo from the 2019 season. This realization prompted him to establish the Hamilton Commission, a program dedicated to improving representation in motorsport.
In 2021, he launched Mission 44, an initiative aimed at “supporting, championing, and empowering young people from underrepresented groups to succeed by narrowing opportunity gaps across society.” At the time, racial minorities made up only 3% of Mercedes’ workforce, compared to 18% of England’s population, according to the 2021 census. In response, Hamilton pushed Mercedes to implement the Accelerate 25 program, which committed to hiring people of color at a 25% rate until 2025.
Reflecting on his efforts, Hamilton expressed pride in the progress made but acknowledged that challenges remain. “I did think, oh my God, I’ve finally got a more diverse working environment that we’ve built over time. And now I’m going back to the beginning of my time with Mercedes, where it wasn’t diverse,” said Hamilton, who will make his Ferrari debut this season.
Under his influence, Ferrari signed a diversity and inclusion charter in November 2024, signaling a commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment within the iconic Italian team. However, Hamilton is aware that racism remains an issue in certain areas of Italian society, particularly in sports. Incidents such as the racial abuse directed at footballers Mike Maignan and Romelu Lukaku in Serie A last year serve as stark reminders of the challenges that persist.
“I’m not going to lie, it definitely crossed my mind when I was thinking about my decision,” Hamilton admitted when discussing his move to Ferrari. “Like in so many things, it’s often such a small group of people that set that trend for many. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem.”
The immense enthusiasm surrounding his Ferrari debut seems to be proving him right, as he continues his fight for inclusivity in motorsport and beyond.
