As of June 1st, the start of the Pride Month, a unique partnership in Formula 1 has been announced. For the first time in the sport, one of the teams decided to partner with an organisation that will help them develop and enact more diversity and inclusion in their work. This team has been Aston Martin F1, who will be partnered by Racing Pride, and who will as well show support for the LGBTQ+ community across the Pride Month on and off track, with a series of social and community initiatives.

Racing Pride, co-founded by Richard Morris, will provide the team with support and resources around the LGBTQ+ diversity and inclusion. The team will focus on highlighting the strength of the community in motorsports, as well as will feature the Racing Pride logos on the bodywork of AMR21 at the French GP.

Racing Pride has already begun it’s work with Aston Martin F1, by conducting a throughout review of the teams policies, implemented an internal survey to understand the team’s current position, shaped an informed strategy and provided inclusivity and awareness workshops to the HR team, line managers and the internal Diversity and Inclusion team. RP also hopes to provide support for the F1 team’s people provision, by running workshops that help develop and inclusive culture, build and develop support strategies for individual team members as well as develop more inclusive policies in the sport.

After the launch of the not-so-succesfull F1 campaign of We Race As One last year, seeing a team partner with an actual organisation like that is definitely a turn in the good direction. Hopefully we will see more initiatives like this in the future.

Here are some words from both of the involved sides:

Sebastian Vettel said:
“I want to help highlight the positivity around the message of inclusion and acceptance. I congratulate the people who have pushed the discussion that has led to wider inclusion; but, equally, I’m aware that more needs to be done to change attitudes and remove much of the remaining negativity. It is great to see Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team giving this issue support – there is a long road ahead, but I’m really pleased we can play a positive role.”

Lance Stroll said:
“As a racing driver and a public figure, I’m passionate about building inclusion within the motorsport world. I’m already involved in helping to develop a STEM programme with Cognizant for young engineering students, but this initiative is a way we can be pro-active as a team in breaking down barriers and fostering positivity. It’s also a great way for us to support Formula 1’s wider #WeRaceAsOne initiative, and I’m pleased that our team has found its own unique way to add its support to a very credible programme that’s been taken up by teams up and down the pit-lane.”

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO and Team Principal, said:
“Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team is committed to being a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community, and our alliance with Racing Pride enables us to further that ambition – for our staff on both a personal and professional level. Working alongside our friends at Cognizant, we’re delighted to be able to communicate a more pro-active stance – especially across Pride Month – but we’re committed to equality within the organisation, and this is a measurable step for us to undertake to showcase that determination. Additionally, we hope our engagement with this issue will act as a beacon for the rest of the motorsport world to follow our example.”

Richard Morris, Racing Pride Co-Founder, said:
“This landmark partnership between Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team and Racing Pride will have a widely felt positive impact for the LGBTQ+ community. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the team as it constantly strives to create an inclusive culture in which all team members are respected, empowered, and valued. The commitment of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team to be a leader in creating true equality – which this partnership represents – will be a source of inspiration to the LGBTQ+ community within the sport, among its global fanbase, and in broader society. It marks a hugely significant step in Racing Pride’s journey to positively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion through motorsport.”