Lewis Hamilton: CEO’s ‘protagonist’ comments hint Mercedes ace free to realise big F1 goal

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Lewis Hamilton has goals beyond just winning an eighth Formula One world championship. Of course, surpassing Michael Schumacher and becoming the most successful F1 driver in history is quite the motivation.

However, for Hamilton, his driving has always been about more than just collecting podiums, poles, and titles.

In no season has this been truer than in 2020. Hamilton led Black Lives Matter protests in F1. He spoke out routinely against racial injustice.

Hamilton has also been at the forefront of the sport’s need to become more environmentally aware. He has consistently advocated for greener cars and for greater care to be shown for the impact of F1 on the environment and the global battle against climate change.

In April last year, Hamilton said plainly that  F1 must do more in this regard and that he is eager to play his part.

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“Climate change is a serious threat: every one of us has the responsibility to protect our future and the future of the next generation,” he told Italian publication Style.

“With the industry I’m in, I’m always going to receive negative attention but we don’t have to be perfect to be part of the solution.

“As a powerful voice in my industry, I have a responsibility to effect change from within Formula 1 as well as in all the other activities in which I am involved.”

And now he sits on the precipice of one of his biggest ever decisions: whether to re-sign for a ninth year with Mercedes.

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Hamilton is yet to agree to a new contract for the 2021 season. No other seat is available this season, and with every passing day, his return to Mercedes, while still expected, only grows more doubtful.

So it is significant that new F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali labels Hamilton as a “protagonist”, stating that he is looking forward to seeing what the Brit can achieve on and off the track.

“Lewis is a protagonist,” said Domenicali to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle. “Lewis has in front of him an incredible possibility to become the best in terms of numbers. So the challenge there is incredible.

“I’m really looking forward to see him fighting on the track with the way that he’s also now behaving as a man, not only as a driver.”

Domenicali adds that F1 drivers are ambassadors of the sport.

He says that they want to “highlight the values of society”. No driver has done more than Hamilton in that respect.

Quite why Hamilton is yet to re-sign with Mercedes is not entirely known. It has been reported that finances play a part, with the seven-time world champion wanting to be remunerated for his historic success.

However, if there was something deeper to the delay, if Hamilton wanted to ensure that he could have a greater impact on the sport than merely standing atop the podium, Domenicali seemingly wants to encourage it, and that could be crucial to his mindset entering 2021.

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