‘Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact’

In January 2021, six-time F1 world champion and vegan advocate Lewis Hamilton will have his own team participating in the inaugural season of the Extreme E electric off-road racing series.

The team-X44 is named after his F1 Mercedes car number and will feature one male and female driver in line with the series’ format.

‘New sustainability initiative’

Hamilton, who regularly uses his platform in support of environmental causes believes the series will further the awareness of the climate crisis.

“Extreme E is an exciting new sustainability initiative, and this is a great opportunity to be involved from the outset as a team founder,” said Hamilton in a statement.

“I’m excited to play a different role in this new series, one that brings my vision for a more sustainable and equal world to life.

“Extreme E really appealed to me because of its environmental focus. Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact.”

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So proud to finally announce @teamx44⚡️ Team X44 will be joining the @extremeelive series and I’m really excited to share this project with you. It will be fun to have a different role from being the team driver. What is most appealing though, is that the Extreme E Championship will be not only raising awareness of some of the most critical environmental issues facing our planet, but also doing something about it through working with local charitable organisations to leave behind no trace and a long-lasting legacy of change. Every single one of us has the power to make a difference, and it means so much to me that I can use my love of racing, together with my love for our planet, to have a positive impact. I’m looking forward to the team taking part in this new series and I think it’s incredible that we can do so whilst raising awareness about the climate crisis. #TeamX44 🌎🌍🌏

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on Sep 8, 2020 at 7:00am PDT

Extreme E series

The series, founded by Alejandro Agag, has been developed to raise awareness on specific issues, such as rising carbon emissions, melting ice caps, deforestation, desertification, droughts, plastic pollution and rising sea levels.

The first of the X Prix race is scheduled to take place in Senegal on January 22-24, 2021. This will be followed by races in Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Greenland and Brazil. There will be no viewers on site and teams will travel on a converted cargo ship with an on-board laboratory.

‘Thrilled’

“We are thrilled to welcome Lewis Hamilton and his X44 team to Extreme E,” Agag said.

“Like us, Lewis is hugely passionate about motorsport, but also shares our belief that we can use sport to highlight climate change and equality.

“Lewis is one of the most successful drivers of all time, and we’re all excited to see how his X44 team performs on and off the race track under his incredible guidance.”

• Read: Lewis Hamilton raced in ‘End Racism’ F1 car for Austrian Grand Prix

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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