In celebration of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, we’re shining a spotlight on Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team who recently hosted an inspiring STEM-focused event at their headquarters in Brackley, welcoming 42 girls aged 8–11 from local schools: Brackley Church of England Junior School, Bracken Leas Primary School, Helmdon Primary School and Radstone Primary School.

The event was delivered in partnership with Girls on Track UK, a joint initiative between the FIA and Motorsport UK aimed at encouraging girls and women into motorsport and engineering.

Hands-on STEM Experiences Spark Curiosity

Throughout the day, the girls took part in a range of interactive activities designed to ignite their interest in science, technology, engineering, and maths. From testing their reaction skills to building and coding remote-control cars, the event blended practical learning with fun and excitement. English and communication skills were also in focus, as the pupils stepped into the shoes of media professionals by hosting mock press conferences, learning what happens both in front of and behind the camera.

Two of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s Industrial Placement students, who joined the team in July, led captivating show-and-tell sessions. They showcased one of the team’s championship-winning cars, and discussed race strategy and safety. The girls also had the chance to feel replica race suits, gloves and helmets and ask questions about what it’s like to work in Formula 1.

One parent said: “What an incredible opportunity. My daughter did not stop talking about the day all evening. She will remember this day for a long time.”

Building Confidence and Expanding Horizons

By the end of the day, the girls were buzzing with excitement and curiosity. The event aimed to expand their horizons, showing that Formula 1 is not just about driving – it’s about teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. The girls were able to hear about the different teams within the organisation such as those tasked with managing the media, those who manage the movement of team members around the globe, and the team behind the design of the car – highlighting the diverse roles within the sport.

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team shared: “A key pillar of our inclusion and social impact programme is to ensure the next generation of talent is given the opportunity to experience our sport from an early age. Working together with Girls on Track UK, we were delighted to open our factory doors to young girls from schools in the local Brackley community for an inspiring day of STEM.”

A Commitment to Inclusion and Community

This event forms part of the team’s broader community outreach programme, being rooted in Brackley since 1998. It reflects their commitment to both engaging the local community and to addressing the UK’s shortage of female engineers. According to research published by Engineering UK in May 2025, only 16.9% of engineers in the UK are women – a gap that initiatives like this aim to close.