Lewis Hamilton: That’s why he performs in front of TV expert Naomi Schiff

Updated on 06/27/2022 at 16:51

• Naomi Schiff works for Sky as an expert and is regularly insulted online.
• Now Formula 1 drivers have taken his side, especially Lewis Hamilton.
• The Mercedes Superstar is however committed to a unified and diverse paddock.

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Lewis Hamilton had no choice. Because Britain itself knows very well how widespread hate is on the Internet. How painful it is, how unnecessary, and how important it is to fight it. So he immediately jumped to the side of Naomi Schiff and used her reach to perform in front of the 28-year-old Belgian.

Recently in Canada, he made a burning appeal for greater diversity and against bullying. “I know what it’s like to be a victim of online hate and there’s no place for it,” Hamilton said. “The sport has been male dominated for a long, long time and we still have to work hard to improve representation and provide opportunities for women at all levels – in teams and sports.”

Schiff has been working as an expert on British TV broadcaster Sky since this season, she is also the co-moderator of “Any Driven Monday” – and she has received regular criticism. Unfortunately, this often misses the point and falls below the belt and is instead directed against them as a person. Because she’s a woman, because she claims she has no idea, both together or because the hater is having a bad day – no valid or understandable reasons are needed to manifest Internet hatred .

no great achievement

Schiff has not celebrated any spectacular success in motorsport. Among other things, he has competed in Formula Volkswagen South Africa, in Formula Renault Asia, in the Renault Clio Cup in China, which he won in 2014. In 2018, he won the title in the KTM GT4 X-Bow Battle Championship. She also debuted in the 24-hour race and the W Series. A very good career, which he has now ended. He certainly has enough experience to put himself in the position of a racing driver.

Still, agitators deny him the ability to analyze Formula 1 and its superstars such as Max Verstappen or Hamilton and judge their performance.

But it is Hamilton & Co., who appreciate Schiff, who are committed to him. “There’s still a long way to go to change this thinking in sport,” Hamilton said. He also looks to the bigger picture, the fight against bullying, hate and hate speech, and for greater diversity and equality.

no big progress yet

The 37-year-old can already see progress at Mercedes, for example, have undergone a rethink, and have resulted in “a huge increase in marketing and human resources, especially among women. Now more young women and girls are encouraged.” to pursue MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural science and technology, editor’s note) and give them the opportunity to do so,” Hamilton says. Hannah Schmitz, chief strategist at Red Bull Racing, showed that women can also hold high management positions in racing teams.

But there is definitely more. So Hamilton is working with Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali and the World Automobile Federation (FIA) on a better environment on a diverse and integrated paddock. One thing is clear: there is still much to be done, as Hamilton complains. “We’ve been talking about it for a while and you don’t see much difference when you’re behind the camera or walking around the paddock. It hasn’t changed nearly as much as I had hoped,” she said. .

“Naomi Represents a Crowd”

That’s why someone like Schiff is important to the diversity effort because “having Naomi on the board is so important to the representation of the sport and I think she’s doing a great job,” Hamilton said. “I tried to encourage her to continue that way because she represents so much.” This is another reason why Hamilton had no choice but to perform in front of the 28-year-old.