12:15, 15 July 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
In the UK, when you think of Formula 1, one driver has become almost synonymous with the sport itself: Sir Lewis Hamilton.
A seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, record-breaker and global sporting icon, Lewis’ impact stretches far beyond the chequered flag.
For many years he has been one of the most public charity givers in the UK, reaching the top 5 on The Sunday Times Giving List in 2022 and now, still being associated with charitable deeds many years later. While his achievements on the track have earned worldwide acclaim, it is the work he does away from racing that truly puts him in pole position as a role model.
Whether championing diversity, supporting young people, raising awareness of neurodiversity or giving generously to charitable causes, Lewis Hamilton continues to prove that success is measured by much more than trophies.
As the Summer of Sport is well underway, we think there is no one else deserving of being our July Positive Icon more than Lewis Hamilton.
Diagnosed with dyslexia at 17, Lewis explained in interviews how it has negatively affected him throughout his education and how he developed his own ways to overcome the challenges. Despite this, he has credited his spatial awareness and sharp intuition to his neurodivergent mind which he attributes as an advantage in his racing career.
Most recently, ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Lewis shared publicly that he had been diagnosed with ADHD.
His openness in interviews normalises conversations around neurodivergence and encourages others to seek support without fear of stigma.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, Lewis Hamilton's charitable giving has consistently placed him among the UK's most generous public figures.
In 2022, he was ranked 5th on The Sunday Times Giving List, recognising the significant proportion of his wealth donated to charitable causes. While this year his position has dropped to joint 30th alongside Shepherd Family, he has been a regular on the list donating around 1.3% of his wealth to charitable causes.
Growing up as the only Black driver in many of the racing series he competed in, Lewis described the experience as ‘lonely’. Now he hopes that he can encourage other young Black people to pursue a career in the industry.
This resulted in the launch of The Hamilton Commission in 2021, an independent research partnership that examined why Black people remain underrepresented in UK motorsport and identified practical ways to increase diversity across the industry.
Its practical recommendations have helped spark conversations and initiatives designed to make motorsport more accessible to future generations, ensuring talent and skill determines who gets a chance to compete.
Following on from the previous point, Lewis Hamilton's commitment to creating opportunities didn't stop at the Hamilton Commission.
In 2021, he founded a global charitable foundation dedicated to helping every young person thrive in education and access fulfilling careers, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) — Mission 44.
The foundation works alongside schools, charities, businesses and community organisations to build a fairer education system where every young person has the support they need to succeed. Their key areas of focus are:
A year after founding, they established a scholarship programme in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering to cover the costs of Black heritage students studying a postgraduate degree in motorsports engineering.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Mission 44. This is a charitable foundation by Lewis Hamilton to empower underrepresented young people.The organisation focuses on narrowing opportunity gaps by fostering inclusive education, youth empowerment, and career pathways into STEM and motorsports. Find out more.
NXG Youth Motorsports. This non-profit is dedicated to underrepresented life skill development and STEM/STEAM education. Find out more here.
Driven By Us. Founded by a former Mercedes F1 electronics engineer, this is an award-winning, multi-national community initiative focused on increasing ethnic and gender diversity across the automotive and motorsport industries. Support them here.
