Mercedes engineer Andrew Shovlin says the team can “understand a lot of the problems” Lewis Hamilton has faced in motorsport after the seven-time champion was racially abused. Shovlin said Hamilton was under attack after entering a “predominantly white British industry” and praised his driver for trying to change the attitude within the sport.
He said Hamilton does recognise it “takes a lot of time to change prejudice” in sport and stressed the team and Hamilton were involved in long-term programmes to drive change. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “He’s a very important and much-loved member of the team and having worked with Lewis here for the last 10 years you can understand a lot of the problems he would have experience growing up in motorsport.
“Which for a lot of years was a predominantly white British industry. That’s why he’s put so much of his energy behind changing ot and so many important initiatives we have got here.
“The Accelerate 25, Lewis’ charitable work with the team at Ignite. They are all part of that.
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The FIA were also shocked by the comment as they expressed their sympathy with Hamilton.
They said: “The FIA strongly condemns any racist or discriminatory language and behaviour, which have no place in sport or wider society. We express our solidarity with Lewis Hamilton and fully support his commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in motor sport.”
