Black racing pioneer says F1 'light years ahead' on diversity

The first black man to test drive a Formula 1 race car says that the sport is currently far ahead on matters of diversity compared to other motor racing championships in the United States.

Willy T Ribbs broke new ground in F1 when he tested for Brabham in 1986. He was also a pioneer in the Indianapolis 500 when he became the first African-American driver to qualify and race in the 1991 event.

Now 65, Ribbs praised the way that Formula 1 has taken up the cause of diversity and equality in the sport in recent months, with reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton leading the way.

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"Formula 1 is light years ahead of anything that America is doing - light years, to this moment,” Ribbs told F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.

“Lewis put it all on the line," Ribbs continued. "And I’m watching these other drivers in Formula 1, all these young drivers, they’re all manning up. They’re manning up and doing the right thing.

“That’s what Muhammad Ali did; Muhammad Ali manned up. I’m proud of them," he continued. “A lot of athletes, especially the ones over here in America, they’re afraid of losing money. They’re afraid of losing their commercial value."

Mercedes backed Hamilton's stance on anti-racism by adopting a new all-black livery just before the delated start to the 2020 world championship, a decision that won Ribbs' enthusiastic backing.

"I’m proud of Formula 1, and Mercedes more importantly. I’m dressed in all-black right now, because of Mercedes.

“I think the sport now sees here’s a great opportunity for it to really expand its base. Keep that momentum going, bring on the next Lewis Hamilton!

“Formula 1 has got drivers from all over the world, from different countries. Formula 1 looks progressive. None of the other sports do, despite NASCAR having Bubba Wallace."

Wallace was recently in the eye of a media storm when a noose was found in his garage before a NASCAR Cup race. Although it was later established that it had not in fact been a hate crime, the incident led the stock car series to review its approach to diversity, and to ban the Confederate flag at events.

But Ribbs said this wasn't much compared to the steps F1 had taken, and part of that was because unlike Wallace, Hamilton could make his point from the position of being a proven title winner.

“Is Bubbs there for show, or is Bubbs there for go? Well, Lewis is in Formula 1 for go," said Ribbs. “Six world championships builds credibility. There’s nothing more credible than that.

“He now can use that. Formula 1 can use it, and they should use it. Take Lewis Hamilton’s brand, which the whole world is seeing, and bring these kids along for the survival of the sport.

"[Lewis] can change a tonne," he stressed. "Not just bringing diversity to the sport but for the survival of it.

"I would like to team up with him on that. Lewis ran into a lot of opposition, but he didn’t get death threats.

"I know a little bit of how rough it is," he continued. "I dealt with it a different way. I never complained about it. If I dealt with it, I dealt with it with my fists.

"That’s how I dealt with racism - and I will continue to deal with it like that."

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