Lewis Hamilton explains global warming behind Electric E commitment – 'Challenges ahead'

Lewis Hamilton has opened up on his decision to get involved in Extreme E, insisting the human race is ‘not going in a good direction’. The Brit is looking to do his part to help the environment as global warming continues to cause issues. And he’s now elaborated on his new sporting adventure.

Extreme E is the groundbreaking new electric off-road racing sport, created with the aim of helping the environment.

Participants will race electric vehicles in five remote locations; the arctic, desert, rainforest, glacier and coastal.

The five areas are all already under threat of climate change from a range of serious issues and Hamilton, speaking to BBC Radio 4, has now explained his decision to get involved.

“What brought my attention to extreme E is the great place it’s going to go to,” he told BBC Radio 4.

“And raising attention to the real climate issues.

“We’ve got some challenges ahead of us, the direction we are going as a human race is not good.”

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Upon announcing the creation of his team X44 in September, the Stevenage-born driver admitted he was eager to make a difference to our planet.

Yet he also insisted that F1 was still his main priority, with the Brit primed to adopt a back-seat role.

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

“Of course, my ambitions and commitments with Mercedes in Formula One mean that I won’t be operationally involved in X44.

“But 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.

“Not only will we visit remote locations facing the front line of the climate crisis, we will also work closely with these locations and leading climate experts to share our knowledge and leave behind a positive legacy in each location which goes far beyond the race track.

“As Founder of X44, I am looking forward to building my team around important values such as sustainability and equality.

“None of us are perfect and we all have improvements to make, but I am excited to use our platform to highlight the most serious issues facing our planet and the solutions we can all be part of.”

Hamilton was named the BBC Sport’s Personality of the Year for 2020 before Christmas, scooping the prize for the second time in his career.

And, after being recognised for his sensational efforts in F1, he said: “I want to say congratulations to all the incredible nominees I’m so proud of what they have achieved.

“I want to say thank you to everyone that has voted for me. I wasn’t expecting this knowing there are so many great contenders.

“I want to say Merry Christmas to everyone – it’s been such an unusual year and I want to mention all the front line workers and all the children around the world, I want you to try and stay positive through this difficult time, I’m sending you all positivity.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

source: express.co.uk