Red Bull mechanic Calum Nicholas expresses his gratitude to Lewis Hamilton, traditionally a fierce competitor, for his longstanding commitment to diversity in Formula 1. Nicholas, who enjoys significant popularity on social media, has noticed that the sport has become increasingly inclusive over the years. He largely attributes this to the efforts of the seven-time world champion.
Calum Nicholas is a Senior Power Unit Technician at Red Bull’s Formula 1 team. During race weekends, he often appears in broadcasts, provided the camera switches to Max Verstappen‘s garage. This week, he was a guest on an episode of The High Performance Podcast, where he shared insights about his work with Verstappen, as well as the unique role of Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1. As a person of color, Nicholas is grateful that Hamilton uses his platform to promote inclusivity.
Inspiring
“I think we’re making progress in terms of diversity,” he said. “We owe a lot of that to Lewis (Hamilton). He has forced a conversation that many of us have wanted to have for years. Of course, I respect his racing skills and his achievements, but for me personally, this is his greatest legacy. This is the most important thing he has ever done in this sport. He has truly fought for it, with all the personal risks involved. He has even invested his own money and time into it. That’s not easy in his position.”
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Throughout his career, Lewis Hamilton has always advocated for increased diversity in motorsports. In 2019, in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, he established The Hamilton Commission. This initiative conducted research into the underrepresentation of black people in British motorsports and the technical sector. Calum Nicholas was also interviewed. “I had the opportunity to sit down with him and a few other engineers in the paddock,” he explained. “We discussed the barriers we faced based on our own experiences. I can’t recall ever feeling so inspired. We are going to change the sport. Thanks to the courage of Lewis Hamilton, he will leave this sport in a much better place than he found it.”
