Team Lynx Racing takes STEM Racing triumph into the F1 paddock

Six Saudi Arabian high-school students are taking in the Formula 1 paddock in Singapore with excitement. Known as Team Lynx Racing, they have just won the annual STEM Racing World Finals, held in the city during the week before the Grand Prix. Their journey reflects the competition’s ambition: to make engineering a learning ground and, for some, a first step towards careers in Formula 1.

The team consists of four boys and two girls. The 2026 final in Singapore brought together 91 student teams from 36 countries, making it the biggest edition so far. Several awards recognised the competitors’ abilities. Reaching the world final also brings a financial challenge: travelling to Singapore can be expensive for a group of up to six members, accompanied by a teacher or adult guide.

STEM Racing’s value extends beyond competition. Many former participants have gone on to relevant university studies and then joined a Formula 1 team. James Mitchell, from Australia, competed at the World Finals in 2023 before being recruited by Aston Martin. British former competitor Laurence Vines now works at Williams as a structural design engineer. He also contributes to the event as a commentator, mentor and judge.

Vines says the competition gave him a route into motorsport. “At 15, I wanted to work in F1 and wrote to the teams asking for work experience,” he recalls. Without connections in the sport, he did not know how to get started. He discovered the competition by chance and was later supported in his studies by Williams’ engineering academy, then associated with F1 in Schools.

The experience also introduced him early to engineering tools and simulation methods, including CA, CFD and FEA. “Before I took part, I didn’t know what those things were. I wouldn’t have touched them until university,” he says. At 15, he was already doing his first computer-aided design work on a miniature car, under regulations running to more than 70 pages. He later studied mechanical engineering at University College London, which sponsored the competition and awarded him a full scholarship, before completing a placement at Williams.

Participants also value the shared experience and international exchange. Noah, from German team Spectrum, appreciates both the learning and the competitive element: “I think it’s important to gain experience, but I also love the competition element.” Aarav, team leader and design engineer at Singapore’s Nebula, describes enjoying the chance to meet and learn from international peers. He says the standard is very high and finds it interesting to see how different teams tackle the same problems.

McLaren racing director Randy Singh says young talent matters to teams: “New ideas and people contribute so much.” Founder Andrew Denford, meanwhile, believes STEM Racing is only now beginning to turn a corner following its 2024 rebrand, despite its long association with Formula 1. Team Lynx Racing’s win gives that pathway a tangible face: a student competition bringing together teams from around the world and helping some participants move towards engineering study and careers.