Sir Lewis Hamilton has hailed Marcus Rashford as “truly inspiring” after the footballer’s campaign to combat child food poverty in the UK pressured the government into giving free school meals to children from low-income families during the summer holidays.
Hamilton praised the Manchester United forward and England international in the 23-year-old’s entry to Time magazine’s Next 100 Most Influential People list.
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The seven-time World Champion featured in Time’s most recent 100 Most Influential People list following his various efforts to raise awareness about injustice and to promote diversity in motorsport.
Most recently, it was announced that Hamilton and the Mercedes F1 Team will be jointly launching a charitable foundation, which, as the Silver Arrows put it, “will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.”
In his tribute to Rashford, Hamilton wrote: “‘I know what it feels like to be hungry,’ he wrote last June as part of a campaign that succeeded in pushing the government to provide meals for students in need during summer vacation.
“By standing up for the most vulnerable in our society, and using his platform and influence to create positive change, Marcus inspired countless others to join him on this mission and cemented his status as a role model.
“In a year that showed us the power of working together toward a common goal, he was a galvanising force behind uniting people across the UK in the effort to ensure that no child goes hungry.
“His determination, resilience and persistence have been truly inspiring. I cannot wait to see how he continues this important work,” he added.
The pair were both honoured by the Queen in 2020, with Hamilton being knighted in the New Year Honours list, while Rashford received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours a few months earlier.
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