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Hamilton ready to drive change as Extreme E team owner

VIDEO SHOWS: ST HELENA SHIP TO TRANSPORT CARS DURING EXTREME E SERIES THAT SEEKS TO PLACE MALE AND FEMALE DUO DRIVER TEAMS AGAINST EACH OTHER IN FIVE SCENIC LOCATIONS THAT REPRESENT VARYING CLIMATES AND TERRAINS ON PLANET EARTH / SOUNDBITES FROM ORGANISERS AND TWO OF THE TEAM OWNERS LEWIS HAMILTON AND NICO ROSBERG

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS:

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 27, 2020) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

1. VARIOUS OF ST HELENA SHIP DOCKED IN ENGLISH CITY OF LIVERPOOL

UNKNOWN LOCATION (OCTOBER 27, 2020) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXTREME E CEO, ALEJANDRO AGAG, SAYING:

"Now, we're more sure than ever that Extreme E is a right and crucial mission for our time, and 2021 is a perfect time to start fresh after the difficulty of the year that 2020 has been. Over the past 18 months we were first on board this ship, not this virtual one but the real one, we were on board St Helena launching Extreme E, we've made huge progress. The quality of the team and the drivers involved now is absolutely mega. We have a world first sporting format which will see for the first time male and female drivers race together for victory. Of course, we're now an approved FIA international series. Our season one is going to take us to the frontlines of the climate crisis to some amazing places where we will get to shine a crucial spotlight on the serious climate issues they face, using sport as our lens for action."

AL-'ULA SAUDI ARABIA (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

3. VARIOUS OF DESERT SCENERY IN SAUDI (2 SHOTS)

DAKAR, SENEGAL (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

4. VARIOUS OF OCEANSIDE SCENERY IN DAKAR (2 SHOTS)

KANGERLUSSUAQ, GREENLAND (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

5. VARIOUS OF GLACIER SCENERY IN GREENLAND (2 SHOTS)

SANTAREM, BRAZIL (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

6. VARIOUS OF FOREST SCENERY (3 SHOTS)

PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA (FILE) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

7. ICE BREAKING AND FALLING INTO WATER

8. SNOW TOPPED MOUNTAINS / BODY OF WATER IN BACKGROUND

UNKNOWN LOCATION (OCTOBER 27, 2020) (EXTREME E VNR - FOR NEWS PURPOSES ONLY. NO RESALES)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION, LEWIS HAMILTON, SAYING:

"I was so excited to hear about Extreme E largely due to the focus on the environment and the mission to raise awareness for... about climate change. And that's something that's really close to my heart and something I'm really passionate about. So, it gives an opportunity for me to be able to merge my love for motor racing together with my love for the planet. And really, I think bringing those two together we can have a really positive impact. And I think naturally being aware of the platform that I have and my position I think, naturally having responsibility to push for... to be a positive force for change and I think I've always wanted to have my own team, I just never knew when it would be. When I heard about this, I jumped right at it just because of what the series means, what the series is going to do. It's going to be quite powerful; I think."

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION, LEWIS HAMILTON, SAYING:

"I think one of my favourite things is also when we're talking about diversity, is the fact that we... I've been racing in this sport over 20 years and seen maybe two, maybe three female drivers along the way and I think the opportunity when we're talking about diversity and inclusivity that is a key issue I think in the industry and I love that Extreme E is allowing to have two drivers, a male and a female - and you're going to see that also transcend down through the small team that we have and that's a key focus for us."

11. VIRTUAL REPLICA OF HAMILTON'S X44 TEAM CAR EMERGING IN STUDIO AS PART OF OFFICIAL REVEAL

12. HAMILTON ASKED WHAT HE THINKS OF CAR DESIGN, HAMILTON SAYING: "It's awesome, I haven't seen this before"

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION, NICO ROSBERG, SAYING:

"Well as you may know, as an entrepreneur now, I'm totally focused on sustainability with everything I do and this Extreme E project is like the perfect crossover between my past and my future. It's the most awesome racing crossing over with the opportunity to really help preserve the environment around the world and that's what really fascinating me."

14. VIRTUAL REPLICA OF ROSBERG'S 'ROSBERG XTREME RACING' TEAM CAR EMERGING IN STUDIO AS PART OF OFFICIAL REVEAL

15. ROSBERG, REACTING: "Wow. That's cool! It looks fast."

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDRETTI UNITED TEAM OWNER, ZAK BROWN, SAYING:

"We love to race together (U.S-based Andretti Autosport and England's United Autosports) and we're super excited about the new championship, our two new drivers and of course anything Alejandro Agag touches these days turns to gold so we believe in his vision and where the series is headed and can't wait for the first race."

17. ANDRETTI UNITED TEAM CAR UNVEILED

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANDRETTI UNITED DRIVER, CATIE MUNNINGS, SAYING:

"It's the first time I've seen that (the car), that is amazing, what a design! That is going to be so cool to race, it's going to look amazing in the locations as well."

19. MORE OF VIRTUAL CAR ON DISPLAY

STORY: Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton looked forward on Tuesday (October 27) to driving change, and accelerating a push for diversity and sustainability, as a team owner when the Extreme E electric off-road series starts in March.

The Briton will be up against some familiar faces, with former Mercedes F1 team mate and rival Nico Rosberg entering his own outfit while McLaren boss Zak Brown is involved in another.

"I've always wanted to have my own team, I just never knew when it would be," Hamilton, who took a record 92nd Formula One win at Sunday's Portuguese Grand Prix and is set for a seventh title, told a series presentation.

"When I heard about this, I jumped right at it, because of what the series means, what the series is going to do. It's going to be quite powerful; I think."

Extreme E aims to highlight climate change and promote sustainability with races in some of the world's most remote and harsh environments that are already suffering from global warming and pollution.

The five races will be held in the Saudi Arabian deserts, Senegal, Greenland, Brazilian rain forest and Argentine glaciers of Tierra del Fuego, the latter replacing a planned round in the Nepalese Himalayas.

"It gives an opportunity for me to able to merge my love for motor racing together with my love for the planet," said Hamilton.

Each team will have a male and female driver and Hamilton said his would also aim to provide opportunities for those from more diverse backgrounds.

Series founder Alejandro Agag said having Hamilton and 2016 world champion Rosberg as rival team owners was a big boost for Extreme E's profile and he expected both to attend races.

(Production: Tim Hart, Mussab Al-Khairalla)