Lewis Hamilton has held talks with Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street about reforming Britain's education system to better support vulnerable pupils.
The seven-time F1 world champion met with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for a roundtable discussion on how Government can work with schools and students.
The meeting centred on Hamilton's Mission 44 charity, which he established in 2021 to create more inclusive opportunities for young people globally.
During the meeting, Starmer was keen to thank Hamilton for his dedication to the cause.
Lewis Hamilton shared a video on his Instagram of the meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Instagram @lewishamilton
The Prime Minister said: "I want to thank Lewis - this was his idea, this is his legacy.
"He’s inspired generations and is now using that influence on this project and is designed to make a real difference in the lives of young people across the country."
Mission 44 released a statement on their website reading: "Today, the UK Prime Minister sat down with Lewis Hamilton and the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to talk about how they will work together to support schools to set high expectations for all children and put in place the support to meet them.
"This work includes a new framework for schools to increase pupil engagement so more young people are supported to achieve."
Hamilton discussed developing a new framework to boost pupil engagement and ensure more young people receive support to succeed.
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Lewis Hamilton began the charity, Mission 44 in 2021
Getty
He opened up about the personal experiences that drove him to establish the charity, revealing he "struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard".
Mission 44 aims to transform education by helping young people access careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects.
The charity focuses on creating a more inclusive future where all students feel they belong in school, regardless of their background.
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Following the Downing Street meeting, Hamilton took to Instagram to express his gratitude.
He wrote: "I’m grateful that off the back of this meeting, the Government has committed to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive.
"I’m so proud of how far M44 has come in such a short space of time and the opportunity we have to transform the lives of vulnerable students across the country.
"I encourage everyone to head to the Mission 44 website to find out more about today’s announcement and support our work. We can create a fairer, more compassionate world, together."
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During the Miami Grand Prix in 2024, Hamilton's Mission 44 announced a partnership with Ferrari title sponsor HP to expand opportunities for young people.
The collaboration provides access to technology, training, digital skills and mentorship in both the UK and Miami.
The multi-year partnership supports two Miami-based organisations that create career pathways and workforce development programmes.
The racing driver has spoken candidly about facing mental health challenges from the age of 13, which he attributes to academic pressures and bullying at school.
Hamilton told the Sunday Times in 2024: "I've struggled with mental health throughout my life. [I've had] depression.
"From a very early age, when I was, like, 13. I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to."
The charity continues to work towards ensuring every student feels they belong in school, addressing the challenges Hamilton himself faced during his education.
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