Ahead of the start of the new 2020 Formula 1 Season in Austria this weekend, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team and McLaren Racing have both unveiled their new updated liveries as a statement against racism and all forms of discrimination.
The new liveries came following the wake of the global anti-racism movement, Black Lives Matter in recent weeks. Both teams will race with their new livery for the entirety of the 2020 season.
Mercedes-AMG F1 was first to announce its support for the anti-racism campaign with the launch of its new all-black race livery. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal and CEO, Toto Wolff said, “Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, our sport or our team: this is a core belief at Mercedes. But having the right beliefs and the right mindset isn’t enough if we remain silent.
“We wish to use our voice and our global platform to speak up for respect and equality, and the Silver Arrow will race in black for the entire 2020 season to show our commitment to greater diversity within our team and our sport.”
Additionally, the team also said that the new black livery will be its public pledge to improve the diversity in the team. Mercedes-AMG F1 said in a statement that only 3% of its workforce identify as belonging to minority ethnic groups, and only 12% of our employees are women.
The Mercedes-AMG F1 Team said that it will announce a diversity and inclusion programme before the year end to listen and raise awareness among its team members, and improve accessibility to the sport with targeted education initiatives to encourage and support talented people from under-represented backgrounds, among others.
The team’s lead driver and six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has been a vocal supporter of the movement, also recently launched the Hamilton Commission, a research partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering dedicated to exploring how motorsport can be used to engage more young people from Black backgrounds with STEM subjects.
Mercedes-AMG’s new black livery will feature the call to ‘End Racism’ on the halo, as well as #WeRaceAsOne wordings on the wing mirrors in support of the larger overall Formula 1 anti-racism initiative. Both drivers will also race in black overalls.
Meanwhile, McLaren Racing’s new livery will feature the ‘End Racism” message, as well as rainbows on the halo, side pods and driver’s overalls as “a universal symbol of unity, solidarity and hope, while recognising those key workers putting their lives at risk to save others” during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
McLaren Racing will also be launching a new line of special merchandise, where all proceeds will be given to the #WeRaceAsOne campaign, as well as charities across the world helping those most affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
McLaren Racing CEO said, “Formula 1 and McLaren have a truly worldwide audience, and we recognise that our return to the track is a huge opportunity for our sport to make an impact at a global level, helping those most affected by the covid-19 crisis and standing together against the blight of racism, as we work steadfastly to build an even stronger culture of diversity, inclusion and equality in our team and our sport.”
