Hamilton's Mission 44 Charity Hits Major Diversity Milestone

Lewis Hamilton's Mission 44 foundation has announced a significant milestone, reaching over 500,000 young people across the UK, US, and Brazil. The charity, founded in 2021 to champion diversity and inclusion in motorsport, is already seeing tangible results, with scholars from its program securing jobs within Formula 1.

Why it matters:

In a sport historically criticized for its lack of diversity, Mission 44 represents one of the most significant and large-scale efforts to create systemic change. By building a pipeline of talent from underrepresented groups, the initiative is not just offering opportunities but is actively working to reshape the future face of Formula 1, ensuring the sport reflects its global audience.

The details:

• Global Reach: The foundation has now engaged with more than 500,000 young people in key motorsport regions, including the UK, US, and Brazil.
• Scholarship Success: A key highlight for Hamilton has been the success of the foundation's scholarship program, which has already helped students secure full-time positions within F1 teams.
• Official F1 Partnership: In 2024, Mission 44 formalized a partnership with Formula 1 itself. The collaboration aims to raise awareness and create apprenticeship opportunities for young people from underrepresented backgrounds, directly integrating the foundation's mission with the sport's official structures.

What's next:

With the F1 partnership now in place, the focus for Mission 44 will be on scaling its impact. The 'much more to come' that Hamilton teased will likely involve expanding apprenticeship programs and leveraging the global platform of Formula 1 to inspire and recruit the next generation of diverse talent, from engineers to drivers.