Seven Times Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton has been named the most influential black person in Britain by The Powerlist 2021 – the annual list of the most powerful people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage in the UK.

Hamilton, who this year surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 grand prix wins, he has 94, topped the list for his achievements both on and off the track including his prominent support for the Black Lives Matter movement and for setting up The Hamilton Commission to improve diversity in UK motorsport.

Hamilton is widely regarded as one of the most successful drivers in the history of motorsport and considered by some to be the greatest of all time. He is currently the only black driver to race in the sport. His seven World Championship titles equals that of Michael Schumacher.

He said: “It’s an absolute honour to be named number one on The Powerlist, I really really appreciate it. This for me is a monumental moment.  I’m so proud to be acknowledged, especially within the black community. Everyone on this list is so inspiring and leading in their own industry, I’m honestly thrilled to be mentioned alongside them.   I think we all have responsibility and we’re trying to do our best. I like to think that I’m just a part of a chain of many people trying to push for change.”

He is joined by new Powerlist entrant Marcus Rashford who campaigned for free school meals for children during the coronavirus pandemic and Jacqueline McKenzie who fought for justice for victims of the Windrush Scandal.

Now in its 15th year, The Powerlist, in partnership with J.P.Morgan, honours incredible men and women across a wide range of industries including business, science, technology and the arts.

Powerlistees as they are known were celebrated at the virtual Black Excellence Awards 2020, hosted by playwright and Young Vic Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah on Tuesday November 17th 2020. During the virtual awards show, J.P Morgan announced a new £2 million philanthropic investment to support London non-profit organisations that are led by black and minority ethnic leaders.

Campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford, nurses’ leader Dame Donna Kinnair and Windrush lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie make the list for the first time. As well as Rashford, other new names on the list include actress, screenwriter and director Michaela Coel and Dr Jacqui Dyer, President of the Mental Health Foundation.

J.P.Morgan said it will work with black and ethnic-led organisations to co-design and implement a programme that will strengthen the resilience of grassroot organisations – creating pathways to stable jobs, entrepreneurship and financial health for local communities – in collaboration with the London Community Foundation. 

Viswas Raghavan, CEO of JPMorgan in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa), said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the health and finances of Black and ethnic minority communities, highlighting and exacerbating structural barriers to economic opportunity.

“As part of our global commitment to racial equity, JPMorgan Chase is focused on helping develop local, community-driven solutions to help historically underserved Londoners share in the benefits of an inclusive economy.”

The full Powerlist 2021 Top 10 is:

1. Lewis Hamilton MBE – Six-time Formula One World Champion
2. Professor Kevin Fenton (New) – Regional Director PHE London 
3. Stormzy – Grime Artist, Philanthropist
4. Michaela Coel (New) – Actress, Screenwriter, Director
5. Edward Enniful OBE – Editor-in-chief, British Vogue
6. Dame Donna Kinnair – CEO & General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing
7. Jacqueline McKenzie – Director at Centre for Migration Advice and Research and McKenzie, Beute and Pope
8. David Olusoga OBE – Historian
9. Afua Hirsch – Journalist, Author, Broadcaster
10. Richard Iferenta – Partner and Vice Chair, KPMG LLP

The Powerlist 2021 is published by Michael Eboda, the chief executive of Powerful Media. Its other sponsors include PwC, Linklaters, Refinitiv, the Executive Leadership Council, Herman Miller and Facebook.

Dr. Heather Melville, OBE, PwC, Director of People Networks & Client Relationship Programmes said: “At PwC we’re proud to be sponsoring The Powerlist for the second year running, celebrating black excellence across so many diverse fields and industries across the UK. We congratulate all the remarkable people recognised in this year’s awards in these momentous times.”

David Martin, Global Diversity Partner, Linklaters, said:  “We want to ensure that we are a firm that celebrates achievement and highlights role models, as we believe they are incredibly important for all of us right now. For these reasons, we are proud again to support The Powerlist and celebrate the success of so many people in the black community”.

Michael Eboda, The Powerlist 2021 publisher, said:  “The Powerlist continues to be a great showcase, acknowledgement and reminder of the amazing individuals of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage we have in the UK and I would like to congratulate each and every one on the list.     Lewis Hamilton is a remarkable sportsman and I applaud the great work he is doing to tackle diversity within the motorsport industry. All this, including his stance on Black Lives Matter this year makes his recognition as the UK’s most powerful black Briton on the Powerlist 2021 so very well deserved. He is an inspiration to us all.”