The promises laid out in the charter include scholarships, mentorship programs, and partnerships with educational institutions to diversify talent pools in engineering, management, and even driving. F1 has also committed to publishing data to increase transparency and ensure accountability. This comes on the heels of the We Race As One campaign launched in 2020, a response to global movements for racial and social justice. But while the initiative appears to build on the momentum of these efforts, questions remain about its true potential to dismantle the sport’s systemic barriers.
Critics argue that Formula 1’s diversity problem runs far deeper than a lack of outreach programs. The financial barriers in motorsport are astronomically high; competitive karting, often the first step on the path to an F1 seat, costs tens of thousands of dollars annually. Access to the sport has always been limited to those with the resources to afford it, effectively shutting out talented individuals from less privileged backgrounds. Without addressing this foundational issue, the new charter may simply scratch the surface rather than driving transformative change.
Even beyond the drivers’ grid, the sport has a representation problem. Women, for example, have historically been excluded from meaningful opportunities in Formula 1. Across its 74-year history, only two women—Maria Teresa de Filippis and Lella Lombardi—have ever competed in a Grand Prix, with the latter scoring a solitary point in 1975. No female driver is currently competing at the sport’s highest level. While there are women in some leadership roles and team operations, they remain a minority in the male-dominated paddock, reflecting broader inequities in motorsport.
Skepticism about the charter is further fueled by F1’s track record with diversity initiatives. The We Race As One campaign started with grand promises but quickly drew criticism for failing to deliver concrete outcomes. While fans initially applauded the campaign’s visible gestures—such as rainbow logos and pre-race messaging—many noted its lack of follow-through on structural issues. Announcements such as this new charter can easily be viewed as attempts to bolster the sport’s image while sidestepping the hard, often uncomfortable work needed to create real inclusion.
Timing, too, plays a role in the perception of the charter. As global sports increasingly come under scrutiny for their lack of representation, it’s difficult not to see F1’s move as reactive. Furthermore, the sport’s ongoing partnerships with oil companies and other ethically questionable sponsors undermine the authenticity of its progressive messaging. How can F1 claim to champion equity while benefiting from industries that perpetuate inequality?
For all its flaws, the charter is still a step forward. Acknowledging the issue and committing to measurable goals is significant in a sport as resistant to change as Formula 1. Whether this move signals the beginning of a genuine shift or becomes another footnote in the long history of corporate virtue signaling will depend on what happens next. For now, the battle for true inclusion on the track and beyond remains very much an uphill race.