Lewis Hamilton’s success is our success too!

For the millions that tuned in to watch Britain’s Lewis Hamilton win his 2nd F1 Championship in Abu Dhabi yesterday, there’ll be a picture that would have gone unnoticed to many perhaps, unless you’re Black.

The race was over, Hamilton had beaten his nearest rival Nico Rosberg to claim the prestigious prize and honour. Hamilton brings the car to halt jumps out of the car and runs to a select group of his nearest and dearest-with the exception of his mother, who has always kept a low profile- which included; his father Anthony, of course, and Anthony's wife Linda ; his brother, Nicolas, Girl friend, Nicole Scherzinger and two others. The woman seems to be friend of Scherzinger, and other, a Black guy who works with Lewis in the Mercedes team.

In that quintessential picture of a group of six people in the world’s most richest and glamorous sport, Lewis’s entourage includes three black men, two white women and his mixed heritage girlfriend, Filipino and Hawaiian-Nicole Scherzinger.

That freeze framed picture above all spoke volumes to me and I suspect to many others. Of course one would expect to see his father and brother to be there, but the only Mercedes employee who was in this inner circle was a Black man. I’ve tried over the last hour or so to find out who he is but to no avail.

And yes it would be interesting to know who the Black man is in the Lewis camp, but it’s not that important. What is, however, is the message this multicultural group picture tells the world, even on a subliminal level : It states, this the world of Lewis Hamilton; it is one in which defines him and even more importantly one which he his passionate about.

For me that one picture was almost as good as seeing Hamilton win the championship. Well almost.

Simon Woolley