Formula 1 Renews Engineering Scholarship with £2.4 Million

Formula 1 has renewed its Engineering Scholarship programme for three academic years with £2.4 million in funding, extending support until at least the 2028/29 academic year. The investment will provide 10 new scholars annually with full tuition fees and living expenses from the 2026/27 intake onwards.

This renewal was detailed in Formula 1's first sport-wide Social Impact Report, published on Wednesday. The report revealed that more than 500,000 young people across 71 countries accessed and benefitted from its programmes in 2025. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the report demonstrates collaboration across the motorsport community to reach that global total. The report covers the collective contribution of Formula 1, the FIA, all 10 teams, and 24 race promoters during the 2025 season. Promoter-led community activities were delivered at all 24 Grands Prix that year.

Scholarship Details and Impact

The scholarship provides comprehensive support aimed at increasing diversity in motorsport engineering. It targets underrepresented groups, including females and people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Each award covers the full duration of an undergraduate degree. Beyond financial aid, it includes a crucial industry placement. Scholars undertake a two-week internship at one of the ten Formula 1 teams during their second year of study. Hiba, a fourth-year Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering student, completed her 2025 internship with the Haas F1 team in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Professor Campbell Booth highlighted the programme's value. "These scholarships provide much more than financial support, and we are so grateful to Formula 1 for its generosity," he said. Ellen Jones, Head of ESG at Formula 1, stated the extension reinforces the organisation's commitment to accessibility and talent development.

Programme Growth and Reach

The renewed funding ensures the scholarship's expansion. The University of Strathclyde is one of five partner institutions in the UK and Italy. The programme will support 10 new scholars each year from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

Since its inception in 2021, the initiative has grown significantly. Ten students have been supported specifically at Strathclyde. In 2025 alone, 10 students were awarded the scholarship, bringing the total number of scholars supported since 2021 to 48.

This growth aligns with broader industry shifts. Formula 1 signed its first Diversity and Inclusion Charter in 2024, with all 10 teams participating. The Cadillac F1 Team will join from the 2026 season. The Hamilton Commission, launched by Sir Lewis Hamilton and the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2021, also influenced the report's recommendations. The scholarship will continue supporting 10 new students annually until the 2028/29 academic year, with the next cohort set to begin in September 2026.