Mercedes F1 team visits Oxford Brookes to inspire next generation of engineers

Engineering students at Oxford Brookes University were given a taste of life in Formula 1 when the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team visited this week.

The team brought a Formula 1 show car and interactive racing simulators to the University’s Headington Campus on Thursday 23 April. The car was displayed on Clerici Piazza throughout the morning, drawing large crowds of students.

The simulators gave students the chance to test their driving skills in a Formula 1 car, while engineers and careers specialists from the team provided insight into engineering roles within elite motorsport.
Oxford Brookes alumni now working for the Mercedes team were also part of the visit, bringing car components including a racing helmet and race suit, and speaking to students about their career journeys.

Professor Gordana Collier, Head of the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics at Oxford Brookes, said: “We are delighted to be one of the very few universities to have such an inspirational event on campus. It  featured many Brookes alumni working at the Mercedes F1 team. It was a particular pleasure to hear the talk by the recently appointed Engineering Director who is also a Brookes alum, Sam Coates.”

Rodrigo da Silva, from Mercedes-AMG Petronas, who graduated from Oxford Brookes with a degree in Motorsport Engineering in 2019, said: “It’s really great to be back here today, seven years after I graduated. Studying here gave me a very good foundation of knowledge.”

Many of the students who took part are members of the Oxford Brookes Racing (OBR) team, which competes annually in the international Formula Student engineering competition, designing, building, testing and racing its own cars.

Thomas Cawdery, 2026 Team Lead for OBR, said: “I was excited about seeing the Mercedes F1 car and hearing about the talk about the different career paths available to motorsport engineering graduates.”

Ashley Smith said: “It’s fantastic to meet some of the people I’ll hopefully be on placement with next year. I’m getting a great experience with OBR too. The team is full of really nice people and there are so many great opportunities to learn in a fantastic new workshop.”

Grace Beardsely said: “I have come today hoping to find out about potential career paths and ask questions as I hope to have a career in F1 in the future. OBR is really exciting. The best part is being able to get involved with car building and learn about the data side of things.”

Ellen Morris said: “For me the most exciting part of today is about meeting all the people involved in placements and seeing the possible roles and career paths moving forward in F1.” 

Past Oxford Brookes Motorsport Engineering students have secured placements and roles with  all of Formula 1 and Formula E teams and their supply chains. 

Find out more about our Motorsport Engineering courses on the Oxford Brookes University website.