P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Mercedes co-owner, stated in an interview that the United Kingdom has been “colonised by immigrants”.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Mercedes F1, faced backlash for his controversial comments on immigrants colonising the UK, prompting UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to demand an apology.
Ratcliffe’s remarks during a Sky News interview questioning the impact of immigrants on the UK economy stirred controversy, with him stating that the UK has been “colonised” by immigrants.
The INEOS founder, who holds a 33.33% share in Mercedes, has been an F1 co-owner since December 2020, but his comments have drawn criticism from various groups, including Manchester United supporters.
Aside from immigration, Ratcliffe has also criticized the UK Prime Minister, branding him as “too nice” to tackle tough decisions, sparking further backlash.
In response, Starmer took to social media to denounce Ratcliffe’s comments as offensive and urged him to apologize, emphasizing the UK’s pride in being a diverse and tolerant nation.
Mercedes, a trailblazer in F1 for diversity and inclusion, is awaited to respond to the situation, with its initiatives like the ‘Accelerate 25’ program aimed at bolstering underrepresented groups within the team.
