Lewis Hamilton recants backing Andretti’s F1 entry, highlights the need for diverse drivers and team owners

Lewis Hamilton championed the idea of having more cars, teams and drivers on the grid initially.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (Via IMAGO)

The seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton, initially supported Andretti Austosport’s bid to enter the racing realm. He lauded it as a “great” move that could inject excitement with more cars on the grid. However, the Mercedes driver backtracked his claims that he didn’t support Andretti’s entry, emphasizing his desire for increased inclusivity within F1.

Lewis Hamilton eagerly embraced the notion of an 11th team entering the Formula 1 grid, articulating a longstanding conviction that the current grid size is insufficient. He articulated, “I’ve always felt that there weren’t enough cars on the grid.” He claimed, “whilst there will definitely be people that won’t be happy for me to be so supportive of it, I think it’s great.”

The seven-time world champion perceives the addition of another team as a commendable development that could infuse heightened excitement into the races. Consequently, he extends a welcoming embrace to Andretti’s potential entry, expressing hope that it might contribute to the expansion of job opportunities and foster greater diversity within the current F1 grid.

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As reported by Motorsport.com, the Mercedes driver recanted his claim, saying, “Nope, don’t support Andretti.” He added that he supports “just the idea of another team in future if it’s a chance to make our sport more diverse.” In a clarification, he highlighted the need for changes in the FIA criteria, emphasizing the importance of diversity in team ownership and driver line-ups.

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He conveyed a need to create opportunities for female drivers and emphasized the importance of diversity at the top. He pointed out that, currently, ownership in the sport is predominantly held by individuals of a single ethnicity, stating, “At the moment, it’s all white owners. There’s a real lack of diversity from the top down.” He hopes there will be a change by inclusivity of more women in the sport, saying, “ [It’s] all male, and that needs to change.”

Lewis Hamilton and Christian Horner (Credits: Sky Sports)

Hamilton advocates amending entry criteria for genuine impact and diversity in new teams. While acknowledging an 11th team’s job creation potential, he prioritizes inclusivity. Despite existing teams’ concerns, his focus remains on fostering diversity in the sport.

Michael Andretti‘s bid, approved by the FIA, awaits the final verdict from Liberty Media. The team’s comprehensive dossier faces evaluation by FOM for potential contributions to the sport. FIA’s approval doesn’t guarantee a grid spot; Andretti must secure a commercial deal with FOM. The decision on their entry is expected in the coming months.

"It's an opportunity for more jobs, it's another two seats available for a female driver… I think it would be more exciting for the race."

Lewis Hamilton likes the idea of a new F1 team joining the grid ? https://t.co/z45zh497jx
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 6, 2023

In a parallel scenario, Rodin Cars, another contender aiming for F1, faced rejection from the FIA. Founder David Dicker intended to include three-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick in the car. This highlights the broader aspiration within the sport to provide opportunities for female drivers and increase diversity, a sentiment echoed by Hamilton in his call for changes in the entry criteria.