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Lewis Hamilton has highlighted that “the difference in race” was one of the biggest obstacles he faced while trying to break into professional motor racing. <\/p>\n
In the BBC One documentary series, We Are England, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion spoke about the barriers that can stand in the way of new drivers.<\/p>\n
In 2021 Hamilton’s non-profit organisation, the Hamilton Commission, estimated the proportion of black people in Formula 1 to be less than 1%. <\/p>\n
Hamilton said: “There\u2019s a lack of diversity through the top of big organisations and companies, all the way down. There\u2019s very little black leadership.”<\/p>\n
Teenage drivers, who started out racing go-karts while still in primary school, were invited to speak to Hamilton at the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s HQ, as they graduate to professional racing in cars. <\/p>\n
Their full story can be seen in the We Are England documentary Born To Race on BBC iPlayer<\/a>.<\/p>\n The full We Are England series, which explores real stories from across the country, is also available on BBC iPlayer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Film by Stephen Mizelas and Eric Anderson.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n