Six Saudi high‑schoolers—four boys and two girls—race around the Singapore F1 paddock, buzzing with anticipation. Can you feel the excitement?
Known as Team Lynx Racing, they just captured the STEM Racing World Finals trophy on the actual Grand Prix podium, meeting two‑time champion Fernando Alonso and touring the Aston Martin garage.
Some hope this isn’t their last glimpse of an F1 garage—next time, they’ll be wearing a team kit.
Since 2000, when it began as F1 in Schools, STEM Racing has offered bright youngsters a chance to spark engineering curiosity and sharpen skills through tough contests.
Teams of three to six design and build a CO₂‑powered miniature F1 car, aiming to blast it down a 20‑metre track at up to 70 km/h. Regional winners earn a spot at the world finals.
STEM Racing World Final 2026 Singapore
The 2026 showdown in Singapore was the largest ever, featuring 91 teams from 36 nations battling for multiple awards.
Despite their size, the cars mirror real F1 tech; teams use professional CAD tools to trim drag and optimise aerodynamics.
Cars are cut on CNC routers, with wings 3D‑printed, then assembled, painted and raced, all after passing scrutineering like a true race car.
Off‑track, teams craft marketing portfolios, secure sponsors, build a brand, present to judges and construct a pit‑booth display—no hiding with only six members.
Funding and marketing become critical when a world‑final trip to Singapore looms, a costly venture for six students plus a teacher.
STEM Racing World Final 2026 Singapore
Walking through Resort World Sentosa’s grand ballroom, the sheer creativity and passion on display is hard to ignore.
“Experience matters, but I love the competition,” says Noah of Germany’s Spectrum, who secured third place. “You truly learn to perform under pressure together.”
Aarav, design lead of Singapore’s Nebula, enjoyed swapping ideas with peers worldwide. “The level here is so high; it’s fascinating to see how other teams solve the same challenges,” he noted.
While most competitors are too young for a direct F1 route, the programme enjoys backing from F1 and its teams, launching alumni into relevant degrees and eventually F1 roles.
Greece’s 2016 champion Kyriakos Theofanidis now engineers at Red Bull Ford Powertrains. Australia’s James Mitchell, a 2023 finalist, joined Aston Martin, while Britain’s Laurence Vines works at Williams as a structural designer and event judge.
“I dreamed of F1 and at 15 wrote to every team for work experience,” Vines recalled. “Without connections, the competition was my accidental gateway. Williams’ engineering academy then gave me the path.”
Vines credits the contest for early exposure to CAD, CFD and FEA. “Before it I’d never heard of those tools. At 15 I was already drafting a miniature car under a 70‑page rulebook that mirrors real Formula 1 standards.”
STEM Racing World Final 2026 Singapore
Amy Martin leveraged the programme into an engineering degree, later shifting to finance and now serving as a financial controller at Mercedes High‑Performance Powertrains.
“I wasn’t initially into F1,” she admits. “My school friends formed one of the few all‑girl teams at the World Finals. Winning the Marketing Award earned us a spot in the Williams Engineering Academy in 2016, where I met Nico Rosberg. That moment sealed my F1 ambition.”
“As a 16‑year‑old, being there was electrifying; I could picture my future.”
When asked what she gained, she said, “Confidence. Presenting to world‑class engineers at 15‑16 is tough, but it builds fearlessness.”
“The standard is astonishing. These kids are brilliant and articulate on a global stage—it creates true all‑rounders.”
For my money, STEM Racing is the premier pipeline for future F1 engineers, giving teams early access to fresh ideas and talent.
“All teams see the value of young talent,” McLaren Racing Director Randy Singh told reporters. “Our graduate scheme feeds the track crew—like Oscar’s performance engineer and our lead strategist. It’s a great way to inject super talent.”
“STEM Racing teaches kids how a Formula 1 outfit works—design, research, marketing, commercial aspects—all invaluable experience.”
Randy Singh, McLaren Racing Director
His advice to aspiring teens: “Stay involved in deep technical projects—STEM Racing, Formula Student, rocketry, even high‑level sport. Those experiences prepare you for F1’s fast‑paced teamwork.”
“Don’t limit yourself to one path,” he added. “Hands‑on projects teach team dysfunctions you won’t encounter at university, and that’s priceless.”
Although STEM Racing has partnered with F1 for 26 years, founder Andrew Denford believes the 2024 rebrand marks a turning point. “We must educate why schools need STEM,” he said, also CEO of Denford CNC tools.
“We launched in 2000 to spark engineering interest, first as Jaguar F1 in Schools, then kept the name after Ecclestone’s approval. Now 77 countries participate, the level keeps rising. I must avoid jargon or I’ll lose them.”
STEM Racing World Final 2026 Singapore
F1’s post‑Netflix popularity surge has boosted enrolment, prompting STEM Racing to add entry‑level programmes for kids as young as six, with varying complexity.
Denford says the goal is for kids to discover their skill set. “Whether you aim to be a team principal, aerodynamicist, manufacturing engineer, marketer or project manager, a six‑person team reveals your passion.”
“Then they can develop those abilities and apply them beyond the sport.”
Where the 2026 finalists end up is uncertain—some may join F1 paddocks, aerospace firms, or forge entirely new careers yet unseen.
Whatever route they choose, their Singapore experience will power a future they’ve supercharged with newly‑honed skills.
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– The Team