Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said on Friday his €50,000 fine for missing last year’s FIA awards ceremony will be applied to help improve diversity in motorsport. sport.
The Briton who skipped the governing body presentation after the controversial final race of the season in Abu Dhabi rejected his record eighth title and instead handed it to rival Max Verstappen by Red Bull.
Attendance is mandatory for the top three in the championship.
Hamilton told reporters ahead of the season’s opening Bahrain Grand Prix that he had met new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“There will be some fines associated with the gala but we have worked together to ensure that the money goes to young people from a background that are not privileged to participate in motorsport.” , said the Mercedes driver.
The FIA responded by releasing a statement confirming Hamilton had met with Ben Sulayem to discuss diversity and inclusion in motorsport along with the fine, which it called a donation.
“In the spirit of his commitment to building a more diverse sport in the future, the FIA president has given his full support to Hamilton’s decision that a donation of 50,000 euros will be used to support a student in need. difficulty achieving academic qualifications in motorsport,” the statement read.
It added: “During the meeting, the circumstances leading up to Hamilton’s absence from the 2021 FIA ceremony were also discussed. Hamilton acknowledged the importance of celebrating the year’s achievement with the prize winners. motorsport and the FIA president reminded Hamilton of his duty to sportsmanship, especially regarding his status in motorsport.”
Hamilton, the sport’s only black driver, has gone to great lengths to gain diversity and wider access to motorsport after coming from an unprivileged background to become one of the the highest paid athletes in the world.
He formed a committee in 2020 and last year made a personal pledge of £20 million ($26.25 million) to a new Mission 44 fund supporting underrepresented young people in Brother.
