Hamilton meets Prime Minister Starmer: united for more inclusive education in the UK
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton isn't just on the racetrack. This week, he swapped his racing suit for a more civic commitment: that of education. The British racing driver met with the new Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss his Mission 44 foundation and his efforts to reform the British education system by making it more inclusive and accessible.
A personal and deep commitment. Launched in 2021, Mission 44 was born from Hamilton’s personal experiences, who has never hidden the difficulties he faced during his schooling. Bullying, a sense of exclusion, lack of support: these are the wounds that have shaped his current fight. “I always felt like my voice didn’t matter at school. That’s why I want every student to feel like they belong, heard, and valued,” he shared after a roundtable discussion organized with British educational authorities.
The project aims to provide young people, especially those from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, with better access to STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). These fields are crucial today for innovation and technological development but remain largely inaccessible to some of the British youth. Through Mission 44, Hamilton intends to break these barriers and encourage a generation of future engineers, researchers, and creators from diverse backgrounds.
A government and private alliance
Following their meeting, Keir Starmer assured that the government would commit to collaborating with Mission 44 to profoundly transform education. A strong signal that places educational equity among the executive’s priorities. For Hamilton, it’s a decisive moment: I am proud of the progress Mission 44 has made in such a short time. Today, we have the opportunity to transform the lives of thousands of vulnerable students across the country.
This partnership is part of a dynamic already initiated in May, during the Miami Grand Prix. On that occasion, Hamilton announced an agreement between Mission 44 and HP, Ferrari’s main sponsor, aimed at providing young Britons with access to technology, digital skills, training, and mentorship. This program also includes concrete support for two Miami-based associations working for professional integration.
Beyond the circuits
By getting involved in educational reform, Lewis Hamilton continues on a path of increasingly strong personal and social commitment. Already recognized for his stances in favor of diversity and against racism, he now places education at the heart of his fight. More than just a driver, Hamilton wants to become a catalyst for lasting change: in the paddocks, but especially in the classrooms.
