Ferrari F1 chairman responds to Lewis Hamilton’s diversity call

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has responded to a call from Lewis Hamilton for the team to “hold themselves accountable” and address a lack of diversity within their Formula 1 team. 

The six-times world champion recently challenged Ferrari and other teams to improve diversity within their respective organisations following similar steps taken by Mercedes. 

Mercedes has announced it will launch a new diversity and inclusion programme before the end of the season to address the lack of diversity within the team, after conceding just 3% of its workforce identify themselves as belonging to a minority ethnic group. 

“Formula 1 has come forward and said that they are supporting ‘end racism’ and it’s amazing to see Mercedes doing the same thing,” Hamilton said after the Styrian Grand Prix. “But no other team has said a single thing

“Whilst we’ve seen Red Bull’s mechanics take a knee, which I think is great. But publicly as businesses, and as teams, if you look at Ferrari who have thousands of people working with them, I’ve heard no word of Ferrari saying that they hold themselves accountable and this is what they’re going to do for their future.”

Speaking in a rare interview with Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, Elkann insisted Ferrari shares the same desire for F1 to become a more inclusive sport. 

Elkann also revealed his organisation was the only company in Italy to implement “the Equal Salary certification for equal pay for women and men with the same qualifications and duties" as of the start of July. 

“The civil commitment he is carrying out is important and is dear to us,” he explained. 

Elkann also heaped praise on Hamilton,  describing F1's only black driver as “an exceptional driver” who he believes can surpass Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher’s all-time records to “become the most successful ever”. 

“He has been able to work with concentration and intelligence,” Elkann added. “His move from McLaren to Mercedes was not an easy one. It was not obvious and it was a winning choice.”