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Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton is in discussion with Mercedes on how the brand can ditch leather interiors in its cars*.
The pro racer, who is vegan himself, has been slammed in the past for working within the racing car industry due to its environmental impact.
‘Heal the world’
According to The Edge, Hamilton said: “Mercedes-Benz is a huge organization, and I have got a phone call with the CEO later today to discuss how we can work on getting rid of all the leather supplied to the cars.
“I want to be part of a system that is going to help heal the world and do something positive for the future.”
‘Never buy leather’
In the past, Hamilton has urged his followers to never buy leather and ditch the ‘barbaric’ industry.
“I woke up feeling good today, but this has just broken my spirit. This is so graphic, so barbaric. PETA how can I help stop this?” he wrote on Instagram, alongside a video posted by the animal-rights charity.
“She’s wincing from the pain of being smashed with a sledgehammer. She was still moving when they stabbed her.
“Her skin is now out there somewhere, likely turned into a belt or jacket. Her life was worth more than a piece of clothing—please, never buy leather.”
* PETA states that even if cars offer a leather-free interior, other components of the vehicle, such as adhesives, can be made of animal-derived materials. The charity urges consumers to ‘contact each manufacturer directly to confirm that all components are entirely animal-free’
