One Cambridge Engineering student will have the tuition and maintenance costs of their degree fully-funded by Formula 1’s new Engineering Scholarship.

The scholarship, announced today (14/07), will be awarded to ten UK or Italy-based Engineering students from underrepresented groups - including lower socio-economic backgrounds, ethnic minorities, and women - beginning their degree in Autumn 2021, who will also benefit from work experience opportunities provided by Formula 1 teams.

The ten scholars will be selected from six universities: one from each of Cambridge, Coventry and Manchester Metropolitan Universities; two from Strathclyde and Oxford, and three from MUNER, The Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna in Italy.

Funded by the $1 million contribution of Chase Carey, the scholarship is among three initiatives being launched today, alongside an apprenticeship programme and an internship programme, all of which fall under Formula 1’s commitment to increase diversity and inclusion across the sport.

Professor Richard Prager, the Head of the University of Cambridge’s Engineering Department, expressed the University’s gratitude for the “generous” scholarship, highlighting that “Engineering is about problem solving, creativity and team-work, which all benefit greatly from a diverse and inclusive environment.”

A statement from Formula 1 said: “We believe that as a truly international sport we can make a difference by using our voice and determination to address these vital issues. Formula 1 is a sport that represents millions of global fans and we want to take steps to ensure we are as diverse and inclusive in our own community as the communities we serve around the world.”

The aims outlined as part of we #WeRaceAsOne, launched last year, broadly cover diversity, sustainability, and inclusion, with Formula 1 also aiming to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 and reduce the use of single plastics.

Stephano Domenicali, Formula 1’s President and CEO, reiterated that “Our #WeRaceAsOne platform is our commitment to make real change and shows our recognition that we know we must make a positive contribution to the world we live in.”