Hamilton says Ecclestone comments show ‘how far we need to go'

Lewis Hamilton has vowed to “not stop pushing for an inclusive future” following recent comments made in an interview with CNN by former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone regarding race and equality.

Hamilton took to Instagram to post a rebuttal to the remarks made by Ecclestone, initially writing “damn, I just don't even know where to start on this one”, before going on to say: “So sad and disappointing to read these comments.

READ MORE: F1 issues statement following recent comments made by Bernie Ecclestone

“Bernie is out of the sport and a different generation but this is exactly what is wrong – ignorant and uneducated comments which show us how far we as a society need to go before real equality can happen.

“It makes complete sense to me now that nothing was said or done to make our sport more diverse or to address the racial abuse I received throughout my career.

“If someone who had run the sport for decades has such a lack of understanding of the deep routed [sic] issues we as black people deal with every day, how can we expect all the people who work under him to understand. It starts at the top.

“Now the time has come for change. I will not stop pushing to create an inclusive future for our sport with equal opportunity for all. To create a world that provides equal opportunity for minorities. I will continue to use my voice to represent those that don’t have one, and to speak for those who are underrepresented to provide an opportunity to have a chance in our sport.”

Mercedes’ six-time champion has recently launched The Hamilton Commission, aimed at making motorsport “as diverse as the complex and multicultural world we live in” – while Formula 1 has also set up a Task Force and foundation, alongside the #WeRaceAsOne initiative, designed to increase diversity and inclusion in the sport.