#WeRaceAsOne

Pic: F1.com

As we approach the beginning of the 2020 season, Formula 1 has released its #WeRaceAsOne initiative which looks to fight the sport's biggest issues which are also relevant within global communities. The #WeRaceAsOne initiative will focus on the battle against Covid-19 and racial inequality. 

This initiative will see all teams and partners of F1 displaying rainbows on their cars and around the circuit, during the race weekend in Austria. This colourful display is to give thanks to key workers across the globe. There will also be an array of visual support for the fight against racism. Formula One have announced strict pledges to increase opportunity and diversity, in the sport that has seen little diversity in its 70 years, and the commencement of an F1 Task Force and Foundation.  

Pic: F1.com

Formula One has set out to create a more diverse culture around Formula One by attracting more diverse talent across logistical, technical and commercial roles. Formula One have also planned a partnership with the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, an organisation established to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users) to ‘eliminate the barriers to entry from grassroots karting to Formula One’ in order to elevate a more diverse driver talent pipeline.  The Task Force and Foundation of F1 will focus on under-represented groups across F1. They will do this by offering apprenticeships, internships and the opportunity for under-represented groups to help them fulfil their potential and potentially access a career in Formula One. It must also be noted that the Chairman and CEO of Formula One, Chase Carey has provided a personal contribution of $1million to start up the funding for this initiative and foundation.  

It is great to see Formula One not shying away from the major issues dominating the world during this time. Bringing awareness to these issues is vital to help towards eradicating them. It is only right that Formula One, a globally known sport, uses its platform for the benefit of others that are not as fortunate to have a worldwide following to speak to on important matters.

Although it is great to see Formula One starting this movement, it must also be said that it has been long awaited especially in terms of racial equality. Ever since the beginning, Formula One has lacked diversity by being a male-dominated sport, this being said; it is a predominantly white male dominated. It is time to see the sport taking the much-needed action against this. We hope this initiative will be one that is tied to Formula One for the long run, in order to increase diversity in the sport.  

A sad element of this movement is the recent news of Bernie Ecclestone who was so heavily involved in the running of Formula One, to understand so little about what this #WeRaceAsOne initiative stands for, stating that Black people are often “more racist than White people”. This statement is obviously very careless and shows lack of support for the movement. Now more than ever there needs to be change in peoples understanding of the BLM movement to overcome these deep-rooted issues. Formula One released a statement following the comments made by Ecclestone and on the topic of racism and equality. The statement reads “Mr Ecclestone has played no role in Formula One since he left our organisation in 2017, his title as Chairman Emeritus, being honorific, expired in January 2020.”  

Overall, it is great to see the sport acting against such important issues and making a difference with their global platform. We hope to see this carry on much further into the future to create a safe, healthy but also diverse environment for the future of F1.  

Here are some helpful links you can use to support the battle against Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement:

https://www.unicef.org.uk/donate/coronavirus

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/uk-crisis-appeal

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#donate

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#educate

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/#petitions

See you next week on Send It Saturday!

Sach & Soph

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