Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has revealed that concerns about racism in Italy nearly led him to abandon his highly anticipated move to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
This revelation comes amidst a backdrop of numerous incidents of racial abuse directed at Black athletes in Italian sports.
In an exclusive interview with TIME magazine, Hamilton, 40, the only Black driver in Formula 1, acknowledged the weight of his decision. “It definitely crossed my mind when I was thinking about my decision,” he stated, referring to the potential for racist incidents.
“It’s often such a small group of people that set that trend for many.”
Hamilton’s own experiences with racism in motorsport are well-documented.
From his debut season in 2008, when Spanish fans donned blackface and hurled racial slurs, to more recent online abuse during his intense 2021 championship battle with Max Verstappen, Hamilton has consistently faced prejudice.
His decision to join Ferrari, a team with a passionate and sometimes volatile fanbase, amplified these concerns.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a problem,” Hamilton added, expressing cautious optimism. “I’ve always welcomed the negativity. I never, ever reply to any of the older, ultimately, white men who have commented on my career and what they think I should be doing. How you show up, how you present yourself, how you perform slowly dispels that.”
Hamilton’s commitment to combating racism extends beyond his personal experiences. In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, he became a vocal advocate for racial equality.
He pushed for Formula 1 to address systemic racism, leading Mercedes to adopt a black livery on their cars and urging his fellow drivers to take a knee in solidarity.
He also launched Mission 44, a foundation focused on empowering young people from underrepresented backgrounds, and the Hamilton Commission, which investigated the lack of Black representation in motorsport.
“I think already from the age of like five or six, I remember already experiencing it when I was at school,” Hamilton said in a 2024 interview with Mercedes, reflecting on his lifelong battle against racism. “Being one of the only black kids there. I think ultimately, I’d had enough. And I knew that there would be other people out there experiencing something similar or way worse.”
Despite his fears, Hamilton has chosen to embrace the challenge of racing for Ferrari, determined to use his platform to drive change and inspire future generations.
