Hamilton, who is known for his advocacy outside of F1, talked about important problems in an interview with Belgian news outlet RTBF during the Spa-Francorchamps race weekend. When asked about leaving a legacy in motorsport, the seven-time world champion said that his main goal right now is to make real contributions, not get personal awards:

Key IssueCurrent StateHamilton’s Call to Action
Employee SalariesSalaries have not kept pace with F1’s revenue growth.Increase employee wages to match the financial boom in F1.
Driver ContractsDrivers cannot communicate or negotiate with other teams.Evolve the contract system to allow greater flexibility.
Diversity in PaddockSignificant lack of diversity remains.Improve diversity by providing more access and opportunities.
Sustainability & WasteFood waste and environmental issues are prevalent.Implement better recycling and upcycling systems.
Influence & AdvocacyF1 drivers and key figures rarely use their platforms for broader social change.Use personal influence to initiate conversations for change.

“I think differently now. There have been a lot of outstanding drivers, and each time period has had its own top driver. That doesn’t matter as much to me. I pay attention to what I can do to help.

Hamilton then called for changes to the structure of F1, focusing on contracts that keep drivers from looking for work with other teams and pay that are not fair to all employees even if the sport is making more money. He said:

I believe the F1 system has to change. Drivers are not allowed to talk to other teams because of contracts. F1 has expanded a lot, with sales going from £700 million to more than £3 billion. However, employees’ pay hasn’t kept up with this rise.

Hamilton also talked about how there is still not enough diversity in the paddock and how important it is to give more people access and chances. He said that past drivers, like Niki Lauda, fought for enhanced safety. Now, the focus should be on making practices that last:

We need to do more to make things easier to go to and do. We must not leave a mess behind when we go to these countries. There should be both upcycling and recycling done right. People die of hunger every weekend because food is squandered. We can work with food banks to give it to people who need it.

Hamilton also talked about how powerful his platform is and how important it is to use his authority to make things better. He said that he doesn’t just want to “shut up and drive” in F1; he wants to have hard conversations with important people who make decisions.

“I believe that’s my job. I can get into the proper rooms. People tell me to “shut up and drive” sometimes. But that’s not who I am. Yes, I do drive, but I do other things too. If I need to, I can meet with the UK Prime Minister or even a president. I can get into significant rooms and talk about hard things. That’s just the way I am, and that’s how I’ll always be.