- Lewis Hamilton bagged six championships during his more than a decade of tenure in Mercedes F1.
- During his run with the team, the driver also left an indelible mark in diversity and inclusion efforts.
After over a decade of tenure under the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team, Lewis Hamilton shocked the sporting world with his departure to Scuderia Ferrari. However, he definitely left behind an indelible mark within the three-pointed star marque.
Like his run in McLaren with one Drivers Championship, the veteran driver accumulated more championships under Mercedes F1. Besides his skills, the rule changes in the sport heavily reinforced his 2014-2015 and 2017-2020 championships. Ironically, another set of rule changes and new competition would leave him with a winless streak since 2021 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix until he broke his dry spell at the 2024 British Grand Prix.
For Toto Wolff, Mercedes F1 Team Principal and CEO, Hamilton’s key accomplishments go beyond his on-track performance. He admitted in a TV interview that the seven-time world champion helped make the Mercedes brand “a little bit more edgy, a little bit more contemporary and extravagant.”
Contributions of Lewis Hamilton Outside the Tracks
Along the way, Hamilton championed diversity and inclusion to empower underrepresented groups in F1 and the world of sports. This advocacy resonated in his interviews and acts in support of his cause.
Wolff recalled how the 39-year-old Briton helped personalize the black version of the Silver Arrows race car. In honor of Hamilton and what he has fought for in the sport, the Mercedes F1 boss claimed they will keep the black variant of their race car.
“But then the impact he had on the team in terms of diversity — you know, we have a large part of our population today from underrepresented groups, and it’s going to make us strong, because it’s different cultures, different perceptions and perspectives,” said Wolff.
“He made us kneel when we needed to do it, and he helped us to do the car black, and it’s gonna stay black,” he added. “We’re not bailing out of there.”
