● Scheme is funded by Mission 44, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation, to find exciting new engineering talent
● Eligibility criteria extended and more scholarships on offer
● Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) and Driven By Us to be co-delivery partners
An MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme to increase diversity in motorsport engineering, backed by Sir Lewis Hamilton MBE HonFREng and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is being relaunched in a new and expanded form. The new programme will have more scholarships of up to £43,000, target a wider range of candidates and will be supported by two additional delivery partners.
Following the recommendation from The Hamilton Commission, set up by Sir Lewis Hamilton to investigate the underrepresentation of Black people in UK motorsport and the STEM sector, the Royal Academy of Engineering launched a two-year pilot programme in June 2022.
Funded by Sir Lewis’s charitable foundation Mission 44, the pilot programme provided financial and career support to two cohorts of young engineering graduates from a Black or mixed Black ethnic background undertaking a Master’s degree in motorsport or engineering discipline.
Of the 13 people awarded scholarships during the pilot—five in the first cohort in the 2023–24 academic year and eight in the following academic year—five are now working in Formula 1 teams, two in the motorsport sector, and one in engineering more broadly.
Following an evaluation of the pilot in 2025, the new programme opens on 23 January 2026 with expanded eligibility criteria and more scholarships on offer in this round than before.
The revamped programme will have three core pillars:
1. Scholarships The number of fully funded scholarships on offer will be increased from eight to 12. While applications from anyone from a Black or mixed-Black ethnic background will continue to be welcomed, eligibility is now being extended include women and/or those from a less advantaged socio-economic background, regardless of ethnicity.
2. Networking and career training A tailored and structured programme of wraparound support focusing on industry access and career readiness led by the organisation, Driven By Us.
3. Mentoring Scholars will participate in a six-month mentoring programme designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed for potential roles or placements in Formula 1 and the wider motorsport and engineering sectors, led by the Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers.
In addition to delivering the scholarship programme for the new cohort, the Academy will develop a programme to build on the strength and diversity of the programme’s alumni to foster a powerful, inspiring and connected community who support each other and are committed to giving back.
Jason Arthur, CEO of Mission 44, said: “Mission 44 is excited that the MSc Motorsport Scholarship programme has already resulted in young engineers from Black and mixed Black backgrounds securing jobs in motorsport. However, we know that there is much more to do to ensure that the motorsport and STEM careers more broadly are diverse and inclusive. Disadvantaged students are still 44% less likely to progress to advanced STEM studies compared to their peers, while women currently make up only around 10% of the motorsport workforce.
“There is a strong talent pool of young people still to be discovered and supported into their dream careers. We are proud to be delivering this programme in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Driven By Us and AFBE-UK, to help open up pathways into the industry. By widening the application criteria, we will encourage more future engineers from underserved communities into motorsport roles, benefitting the industry with their enthusiasm, hard work and knowledge and creating real change in Formula 1 and the engineering world.”
Sir Lewis Hamilton with MSc Motorsport Scholars at Silverstone July 2025
Dr Rhys Morgan, Director of Education and Skills at the Royal Academy of Engineering, which led the research for the Hamilton Commission for Sir Lewis, said: “As an Academy we were proud to support the Hamilton Commission and to see its positive impact. I am delighted that Mission 44 is continuing its support of the MSc Motorsport Scholarships programme and that, in securing the Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers and Driven By Us as delivery partners, we are joined by two key organisations equally committed to supporting underrepresented groups in engineering. Motorsport must ensure it doesn’t miss out on talented individuals simply because they may have faced barriers others have not.”
Dr Nike Folayan MBE HonFREng, Co-Founder of Association of Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers, said: “We are proud to support this initiative, which builds on the important work of the Hamilton Commission—work I was privileged to contribute to. Mission 44 is creating a powerful opportunity to drive meaningful and lasting impact for the young people involved. The AFBE is delighted to be working alongside the Royal Academy of Engineering and Driven By Us to ensure these scholarships are truly impactful and lead to the outcomes we want to see for the scholars.”
James Dornor, Founder of Driven By Us said: “Driven By Us are proud to partner with Mission 44 and the Royal Academy of Engineering to deliver tailored career support on the MSc Motorsport Scholarship Programme that goes beyond access and focuses on long-term impact and workplace readiness. Motorsport is rich with opportunity, yet many talented engineers from underrepresented backgrounds still face barriers to entry and progression. Through this structured programme, we are committed to equipping scholars with the confidence, industry insight, and real-world readiness needed to thrive. By connecting awardees with a complete community network, role models, and key industry stakeholders to form meaningful development pathways, we are not only supporting individual careers but actively contributing to a broader shift in the motorsport ecosystem, one where opportunity, leadership, and innovation are shaped by truly diverse talent.”
The Masters in Motorsport Scholarships will open for applications on 23 January 2026 and close on 4 May 2026.
Notes for editors
- Masters in Motorsport Scholarships. Full eligibility criteria are available on the Royal Academy of Engineering website but include applications from individuals who are:
a. UK-domiciled (i.e. living in the UK on a permanent basis);
b. hold (or are completing) an undergraduate degree in engineering, a STEM subject, or related field;
c. be: (i) Black or Mixed-Black; AND/OR (ii) woman; AND/OR (iii) from a less advantaged socio-economic background (criteria available on request). - Mission 44 Launched by Seven-Time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Mission 44 is a charity that is working to build a fairer, more inclusive future for young people around the world. The charity is driving change so that every young person can thrive in education and access great careers in STEM. By funding innovative programmes, connecting changemakers, and campaigning to shift policy and attitudes, Mission 44 is breaking down systemic barriers for underrepresented young people around the world.
- The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond. Our work is enabled by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, corporate and university partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and individual donors.
- AFBE (Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers) is a UK-based non-profit dedicated to increasing diversity in engineering by inspiring, supporting, and connecting Black and Minority Ethnic individuals in STEM, from students to professionals. Founded in 2007, AFBE-UK runs programs, workshops, and mentorships, offering resources, networking, and advocating for better Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) practices to tackle underrepresentation and foster excellence in engineering.
- Driven By Us’ mission is to drive meaningful change by championing underrepresented talent in STEM and reshaping perceptions across the automotive and motorsport sectors. Built by industry professionals, we empower aspiring leaders through our community space, providing mentorship, development pathways, and real-world opportunities that support personal and professional growth in environments grounded in inclusion, excellence, and equity. Our reach spans the UK, North America, Europe, and beyond. Through partnerships with schools and the wider industry ecosystem, we shape a future where diverse voices lead, inspire, and succeed supported by industry-leading role models embedded within the Driven By Us community.
- The Hamilton Commission reported in 2021, identifying three strands of action to address the barriers to Black students entering not just the motorsport industry but also the wider engineering profession: Support and empowerment – engendering a sense of agency among young Black people and supporting progression to engineering careers; Accountability and measurement – accountability of those in authority, evidenced through consistent collection and sharing of data; Inspiration and engagement – enabling young Black people to visualise what these careers involve and see themselves in these roles.The Commission put forward ten recommendations that it believed would have a long-lasting and positive impact on the motorsport industry and encourage more young Black students to pursue subjects which lead to careers in engineering. One of these was the commitment to a Master’s scholarship for Black motorsports students in the UK: “We support the creation of scholarship programmes to enable Black graduates from degrees in engineering and allied subjects to progress into specialist motorsport roles” (Hamilton Commission Recommendation #5).