“We are trying to be more inclusive and more diverse” :Toto Wolff emphasizes on the importance of diversity in F1

“We are trying to be more inclusive and more diverse” :Toto Wolff emphasizes on the importance of diversity in F1

Mercedes' team principal Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff, team principal at Mercedes, has pledged to do “whatever we can” to expand diversity in F1. Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula One world champion, and Mercedes have paved the way in recent times in intending to create a more equitable and diversified paddock.

Brackley-based racing team Mercedes seems to have its own initiatives, Ignite and Accelerate 25, and Wolff described: “It’s just we just need to take one step at a time. We would love to have a very diverse group of fans and audiences and whatever we can do we are prepared to do.”

“Formula 1 is a global sport with fans across the world. We want to be as diverse as our fan base and that is why we are taking action to ensure talented people from underrepresented groups have the best opportunities to get into, and build, a fantastic career in this amazing sport, “ said current Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali last year regarding inclusion of diversity in the motorsport in an interview last year.

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Formula One is in urgent need of role models beyond top drivers: Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff

Lewis Hamilton remains the only black driver on the F1 grid but for Wolff, the issues of inclusivity and diversity extend beyond the drivers and into other roles within teams. “As teams, we are trying to be more inclusive and more diverse,” added Wolff.

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“We have… all of us have our own initiatives, we have something that’s called Accelerate 25, where over the next years, we want to hire at least 25 per cent from underrepresented groups in our team.”

He then continued to urge for the need of role models in a motorsport like Formula One which extends beyond the top drivers on the grid. He requested the media to be talking about the sport and the room for diversity and inclusivity that it is willing to provide. “There needs to be a more diverse group of people talking about Formula 1,” concluded the Austrian team principal.

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