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"We are all one blood and all have the same needs. There are currently 40,000 jobs in the motorsport industry, and only 1% of them are from Black backgrounds.
Radio 1Xtra selected 29 "Future Figures" to commemorate Black History Month.
This series will highlight individuals, groups, and organizations who "make Black history now".
Hamilton is one the most outstanding F1 drivers ever. He equalled Michael Schumacher’s world championship record with seven titles in 2020. In September, he became the first F1 driver ever to achieve 100 career wins by winning the Russian Grand Prix.
The 36-year old wants to be more than just a champion on the track. He also wants to be a leader in the fight for racial equity.
"I have never wanted to be remembered for being a race driver. I don't want that to be my only reason for being here. While it's nice to be remembered as a good driver, I believe my time here is about helping others and making an impact." he said.
Hamilton sat down after George Floyd died in Minneapolis in 2020. He also brought along black designers to the Met Gala in support of their work.
To combat inequality in motorsport, he established the Hamilton Commission. He also established Mission 44, a charitable commission that aims to donate 20 million over the next few decades to children from underrepresented backgrounds.
He has also launched a program to increase the number of teachers from black backgrounds in STEM subjects, including science, technology, and maths.
He says, "I set up this commission to find out what these barriers are so that we can really address them." "We can bring people together and take them on an adventure, really pushing the sport to look more like the outside.
"The black community is what's most dear to me because it's evident that my heritage. We have therefore focused Hamilton Commission on this."
Hamilton believes it is important for children to study STEM subjects as early as possible to increase the diversity of the sport.
"A lot of students, especially black students, are less likely than others to choose triple science. This is part of the study [to become an F1 engineer].
Engineering is more than being the engineer working alongside you. This industry offers thousands of exciting, well-paid and great opportunities.
"That is why we must encourage young people to pursue STEM subjects starting at an early age."
Continue reading BBC Sport in Black History Month: 'The sporting heroes that changed our lives'
