Climate issue was important clause in Hamilton's one-year contract

F1 News

1 April 2021 at 19:50
Last update 1 April 2021 at 20:08
  • GPblog.com

Life for Lewis Hamilton consists of more than just Formula 1. More and more the current world champion is also an activist. Against racism or climate change for example.

Environmental Issues

In addition to switching to a plant-based diet and getting rid of the jet, Hamilton has also invested in X44, a team participating in a new electric off-road racing series called Extreme E. Instead of flying, the cars and their components will travel the world on the RMS St. Helena, a former Royal Mail ship. "The idea is," says Hamilton in conversation with Wired.co.uk, "to make people aware of environmental issues. Think about the Amazon rainforest, a melting glacier in Patagonia."

Stopping won't solve the problem

So while Hamilton is keen to improve the world, he is still active in perhaps the least carbon-friendly sport there is; Formula One. "It was one of my points in the contract negotiations with Mercedes, as was the team's commitment to support more diversity and inclusion in motorsport through a charity."

However, Lewis is not thinking about quitting himself: "What are my options? I could quit. The advantage would be that I wouldn't have to drive at 20 different circuits and so we would have to fly less. But the fact is that if I stop, the sport will continue. They're not cancelling F1 for me."