Inclusion for the sake of inclusion isn't the way to go though. Opportunities should be available in motorsports but sport is also a results business or is supposed to be a results business. Balancing meritocracy with fair opportunity is never going to be easy in a sport that has always been a rich man's game.
So, I do generally agree that it's more important for new people to be brought on based on their ability rather than just the for the sake of inclusion. However, from what I've seen over the years, Lewis' thing has been campaigning for for the FIA to just give these people real chances to get their foot in the door, regardless of their backgrounds, which it sounds like the FIA (or at least some of its leadership) is hesitant in doing. Of course, I say that not knowing what the hiring process in the FIA (or motorsport in general) is like.
That being said, I don't think it's horrifically controversial to say that it's much harder for certain people to get their foot in the door within the racing industry as a whole if they're not cut from a particular set of cloth. To that end, I do support Lewis' efforts to help make changes in that aspect.
On the topic of the Wolffs though, was Susie Wolff targeted for this supposed hatchet job because she's a woman or because she works for Mercedes? I have to say I did find her "I am a woman in F1" statement a bit of a weird addition.
The insinuation seems to be that certain individuals within the FIA were going after Susie after at least in part because of her being a woman relatively high up the motorsports food chain, and were perhaps seeing this investigation (brought about by a single article from F1 Business, apparently) as an opportunity to discredit her. Granted, there's been absolutely nothing confirmed that this was the case, and likely never will be publicly.
Though, being honest, I really can't blame Susie for being pissed and wanting to see heads roll for this situation. I can only imagine how immensely frustrating in must be working for your entire life to have a career in motorsports (which was likely made more difficult for Susie
because she's a woman entering an extremely male-dominated industry), getting to a high-up position within your field, and working your ass off to introduce a new audience and talent pool to the thing you love, only to have your organization question your loyalty and commitment to them based entirely on a single "news" story from a highly-questionable source, and without consulting you first.
Hamilton:
- Calls out the FIA for holding the Prize Giving in Baku rather than in Europe, questioning the sustainability credentials of the event
- Attends the event and calls out the FIA for its investigation into Susie Wolff, aims barb directly at ben Sulayem
- Congratulates Red Bull, "faultless" Verstappen, and Perez on stage during the prize-giving (though it looked a little uncomfortable with Horner at the end)
- Leaves his trophy behind - apparently "given" to a fan, although this has subsequently been denied by Mercedes which says it's in a custody chain to be returned to Brackley
The FIA has only responded to the first one, by announcing the 2024 event will be in Kigali in Rwanda. Obviously.
If the Rwanda decision was indeed made in part to appease Hamilton, that would be hilariously stupid, but would be just one more thing to add to the list of "Stupid 🤬 the FIA says/does."
