Formula 1 wants to ‘take action’ on anti-racism, instead of just ‘gestures’. F1 will be shifting its anti-racism focus from 'gesture' to 'action'.

Italian manager and the current CEO of Formula One Group, Stefano Domenicali, has confirmed for Sky Sports that Formula 1 will be shifting its anti-racism focus next season amid the push for more diversity, explaining that it is now time for “action” rather than “gestures”.

During the last two championships, Formula 1 has run a ‘We Race As One’ campaign and anti-racism message ahead of the start of the events, with drivers then forming at the front of the grid where the majority have taken a knee. However, the former Ferrari boss has confirmed the sport is changing its approach, as while drivers are still free to take a knee, they will no longer be presented the formal opportunity to do so in a pre-race ceremony.

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In a recent interview for Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater, the Formula 1 president and CEO explained: “I think the gesture has been an important gesture because we need to respect everyone, as always. But now is the time to move on and take some other action.” – he added.

Stefano Domenicali, whose interview coincides with Formula 1’s new diversity push with an extension to its engineering scholarship programme, continued: “We needed to make sure that what we did was important to show the intention of Formula 1 in things that were really important for the world. I think now it’s the matter of [changing] gesture, to action. Now the action is the focus on the diversity of our community, and this is the first step.”

The Formula 1 Engineering Scholarships were launched in 2021, following a US$1 million donation from Non-Executive Chairman of Formula 1 Chase Carey. The programme has so far successfully supported 10 students, who have begun placements in their undergraduate and postgraduate engineering degrees at leading universities in the UK and Italy.