Wolff believes equality campaigning has aided Hamilton's motivation

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton's pursuit for equality has aided his motivation to succeed on track in 2020.

Lewis Hamilton is on course to take a record-equalling seventh Formula 1 world title in 2020.

The Briton has already laid claim to the largest number of pole positions and podiums by any individual driver in the history of the sport, and is also closing in on Michael Schumacher's haul of 91 grand prix victories.

With success can come complacency, but this has never seemed the case with Hamilton, and Wolff has seen an added motivation in his driver this time around.

Wolff commented: “Lewis has always been at his best when he fought adversity, and I think the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement is close to his heart and it certainly helps in terms of motivation.

"But I think I have always said I am impressed how he develops. Every season he is better in terms of his personality and as a driver.

“That is really inspiring in a way that as a mid-30-year-old he is able to show us how you can develop as a personality and how you can improve your game, how you can have interests in things outside of motorsport that actually make you stronger.”

After each of his four wins in 2020, Hamilton has pointed to the 'Black Lives Matter' emblem on the top of his helmet.

Hamilton explained: "It continues to be an issue and there are so many issues around the world, but right now, for me, that is something that I’m very focussed on, continuing to push for diversity.

“We are taking a stance when we start the race but it’s almost a formality now, but it’s important we continue to push."

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