First Black Formula 1 Winner Lewis Hamilton

First Black Formula 1 Winner Lewis Hamilton
AMW !.e. Talent: Andrea M. White
June 15, 2007

Yes we need to know this, not only because it’s important but this is a billion dollar industry that not enough African-Americans have their hands in. Okay, no I don’t watch NASCAR or Formula One racing, but I always find it fascinating when I hear the President of Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc., African American Max Siegl promoting NASCAR, or when I hear that a 22-year-old rookie, Lewis Hamilton is the first Black driver in history to win a Formula One (Grand Prix) victory at the Canadian Grand Prix.

F1 racing is the highest class of racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), racing’s governing body. There are a number of races held throughout the world from Bahrain to Malaysia, which are called Grand Prixs and all winners are brought together to compete in the World Championship – basically this is the Super Bowl of racing.

Hamilton has had a long career with the Mercedes Corporation and won the F1 race in his Mercedes McLaren. Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented how "Lewis is a gifted driver who proved his talent with two consecutive title wins - 2005 in the Formula 3 Euro Series in a Dallara Mercedes and this year in the GP2 Series. McLaren and Mercedes-Benz have supported Lewis already for nine years. He was half as tall as he is today when he started in karting.”

Sources stated that after Hamilton crossed the finish line, he jumped out of his car racing toward his crew and hugging everyone in site, the 22 year-old simply stated, "I'm just having a fantastic day. This is history." For more info on African American racing heroes, check out http://www.nascar.com/2005/kyn/02/14/bhm.2/.