Formula 1 has set up a diversity🐼 and equality task force as part of a new initiative ahead of the 2020 season and has pledged to make a "strong and visual stand" against racism in Austria.

The #WeRaceAsOne initiative aims to promote greater diversity and inclusivity in motorsport and comes after F1’s managing director of ওmotorsports Ross Brawn recently hinted at “major announcements” on how the spor🅺t plans to improve.

Global a𒁃nti-racism pr♓otests in recent weeks following the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in the United States of America has placed strong focus on equality on all areas of society, including sport.

Six-times F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton💟 criticised the sport’s initial silence over the matter and has since championed motorsport’s push for greater equality. As F1’s only black driver, Haꦑmilton has been a prominent supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and attended a peaceful protest in London last weekend.

F1 now plans to follow other sports including NASCAR and English football’s Premier League in making a public stance against racial inequity and 🐟discrimination with a “strong and visual stand” at the season-opener in Austria on July 5.

Further details of F1’s support in the fight against racism are set to be outlined l༒ater this week before the🃏 heavily-delayed 2020 campaign gets underway next month.

"This initiative will be the platform for the priorities set out above and is aimed at ꦓtackling the biggest issues facing our sport and global Formula 1 launches #WeRaceAsOne communities,” an F1 statement read.

“It will not be a one week or one-year the💜me that disappears as issues disappear from headlines, it will underpin the Formula 1 stra💦tegy to make a tangible difference in our sport and society.

“During the race w𝓡eekend in Austria we will take a stand against r💙acism,” the statement continued. “This will include visual displays of support in the fight against racism.

“In addition to the visual display of support we will also announce later this week clear pledges to increase diversity and oppo💜rtunity in our sport.

“This will include setting up a Formula 1 Task Force that will listen to people from across the paddock, including the drivers, as w🐬ell as externals and make conclusions on the actions required to improve the diversity and opportunity in Formula 1 at all levels.

“Further details of t🉐he Task Force will be set out in the coming weeks and the visual displays of support at the first race will be seen for the first time during the race weekend.”

F1 will also make a public display of support and gratitude for key workers effo💜rts’ du♛ring the COVID-19 crisis.

Rainbows will be present on all F1 c✃ars and around the race circuits incorporating the hashtag #WeRaceAsOne, with the initiative “co𓂃ntinuing throughout the season”.

F1 CEO and chairman, Chase Carey, said the time has come to “recognise the issues that are bigger than any one spo🍎rt or country”.

“Our first race in Austria at the start of July is a big moment for our sport after🔯 nearly four ♓months of no racing,” he added.

“The #WeRaceAsOne initiative we have launched today, in support of the #PurposeDriven Move🏅ment launched by the FIA last week, is our way of saying thank you to the bravery and unity everyone around the world has shown during this unprecedented time.

“It will also be a platform for Formu🦄la 1 to come together and achieve results against the most important issues facing us as a sport and the world.

“That is why at our first race in Austria Formula 1 will stand united to say loud and clear that racism must꧃ end.

“We will s🥂how our full support in fighting inequality throughout the weeꦓkend and accelerate our own efforts to make Formula 1 more diverse and inclusive.

“As a gജlobal sport we must represent the diversity and social concಌerns of our fans, but we also need to listen more and understand what needs to be done and get on with delivering.”