UK Prime Minister Demands Apology from Mercedes F1 Co-Owner Over Immigration Remarks

Mercedes Formula 1 co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is facing a public rebuke from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has called for an apology over Ratcliffe's controversial claim that Britain has been "colonised by immigrants." The remarks, made in a televised interview, have sparked backlash and put a spotlight on the dissonance between the billionaire's views and his F1 team's public commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Why it matters:

The incident places Mercedes, a team that has positioned itself as a leader in F1's diversity and inclusion efforts, in an awkward position due to the inflammatory comments of a key figure in its ownership group. It highlights the potential for off-track political and social controversies to impact a team's brand and its stated core values, especially on sensitive issues like immigration.

The details:

• In an interview with Sky News, INEOS chairman and Mercedes co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made sweeping comments about immigration and the UK's welfare system.
• He stated, "You can't have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in... The UK has been colonised by immigrants, really, hasn't it?"
• Ratcliffe, who is a British billionaire residing in Monaco and also co-owns Manchester United, further criticized Prime Minister Starmer, calling him "too nice" to do "difficult things."
• In a direct response on social media platform X, Prime Minister Starmer labeled the comments "offensive and wrong," asserting that "Britain is a proud, tolerant and diverse country," and called for Ratcliffe to apologize.
• The controversy creates a stark contrast with Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team's public initiatives. Since 2020, the team has run its 'Accelerate 25' programme, a five-year strategy aiming for 25% of all new hires to come from underrepresented groups.

What's next:

The pressure is now on Mercedes F1 to address the situation publicly. As of the report, the team had been approached for comment but had not yet issued a statement. How the team navigates the fallout from its co-owner's comments—balancing its corporate partnerships, its diverse workforce and fanbase, and its relationship with a major shareholder—will be closely watched. The episode serves as a reminder of how the personal views of high-profile figures in the sport can quickly become a team and brand management issue.