Coventry University to offer Formula 1 scholarship

Two Mechanical Engineering students

Two Mechanical Engineering students

University news

Wednesday 14 July 2021

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Press Team
press.mac@coventry.ac.uk


One Coventry University student will have the opportunity to work with motorsport elite after the university was chosen by Formula 1 to help its #WeRaceAsOne initiative.

Formula 1 announced last year that as a sport it would focus on creating employment and education opportunities for underrepresented groups – with a personal contribution of $1 million from Non- Executive Chairman Chase Carey to finance primarily, but not exclusively, engineering-focused scholarships for underrepresented students.

Coventry University will offer one of 10 scholarships, with the University of Cambridge, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Oxford, Strathclyde University and Italian MUNER Motor Vehicle University hosting further scholarships.

The ten students will be selected from groups that are under-represented in engineering and Formula 1.

Each scholarship will provide the full cost of a student’s tuition, together with a living stipend, and all 10 Formula 1 teams have committed to provide work experience opportunities to the scholar during their time at university.

Formula 1 is a global sport with fans across the world. We want to be as diverse as our fan base and that is why we are taking action to ensure talented people from underrepresented groups have the best opportunities to get into, and build, a fantastic career in this amazing sport. I am delighted to announce that scholars will get the chance to fulfil their dreams in Formula 1 and I know they have amazing futures ahead of them. I want to pay particular thanks to Chase whose generous donation is funding the ten scholarships.

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. All of the teams are committed to this and the work of the Hamilton Commission shows the dedication to addressing these issues across Formula 1. Our focus is on Diversity & Inclusion, Sustainability and Community and we will continue to drive forward with our plans to be more diverse, more sustainable and leave a lasting positive impact on the countries and communities we visit. We know we must continue to move forward on these issues and the whole sport is united in doing this in the months and years ahead.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1

The scholarship is only available to UK students and the Coventry scholar will be part of the Mechanical Engineering MEng/ BEng Hons, Motorsport Engineering MEng/ BEng Hons, or Automotive Engineering MEng/ BEng Hons September 2021 student intake, with the university set to run an independent selection process to determine the scholarship recipient.

We are delighted to be working with Formula 1 to help give one of our future students this fantastic opportunity to build a career in motorsport.

At Coventry University we pride ourselves on having a diverse and international student body and this scholarship will sit alongside our existing work to address inequalities in recruitment and attainment in Higher Education.

Coventry University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering, Environment, and Computing, Professor Michael Fitzpatrick

Future Coventry students have until August 6 to apply for the scholarship.