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“I Got Expelled When I Was 15”: Lewis Hamilton Launches Campaign to Tackle ‘Isolation’ in Schools

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG Petronas) during the Sao Paulo GP press conference

Lewis Hamilton’s Mission44 venture continues to inspire, with a new campaign aimed at helping kids tackle isolation in school announced on Wednesday. During its launch, Hamilton also revealed a surprising fact: he was expelled from school when he was 15.

“Sometimes, small things make a big difference” is what Hamilton says in a voiceover at the start of the Instagram video which brought his cause to light. The seven-time World Champion discusses how school isn’t easy for everyone.

Often, due to people being misunderstood, drastic actions are taken against them, which in certain cases can derail their entire career. “For some, school is full of hurdles that young people have to overcome. Not all are granted the opportunity to have someone offer a helping hand, so they can achieve their dreams,” he adds.

 

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That’s what Hamilton vows to change through this campaign. He gathered a group of people who had faced difficulties in school to share their stories with the world, each highlighting different challenges they had experienced. Hamilton also revealed how he was mistakenly blamed for an attack on another student, for which he nearly lost his entire life.

Hamilton’s experience with school expulsion

In the video, Hamilton discusses being expelled at 15. “That really nearly changed the whole trajectory of my life,” the 39-year-old reveals.

However, what Hamilton truly meant to say was that he went through an ‘exclusion’, which in British schools, is different. The caption on Mission44’s Instagram post reads, “At 15 years old, Lewis had temporarily excluded himself, before being reinstated in his classroom…”

So, Hamilton had only suffered a temporary expulsion, but that too took a negative toll on his mental health. “I was thrown out and I didn’t even do anything,” he said in an older interview. “I thought my life was over and I didn’t really want to go home that day”.

Thankfully, Hamilton’s innocence was proven very quickly, allowing him to return to school, while the person who sustained the injuries recovered in the hospital. Nonetheless, it was a traumatic experience for the Mercedes driver, one he doesn’t want kids to go through. This is why he launched his campaign through Mission44.

Post Edited By:Vidit Dhawan

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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