F1® in Schools
Aramco shows pride in supporting STEM at F1® in Schools World Finals
Germany’s Recoil Racing emerged as the winners, beating 67 other teams after three days of competition.
Aramco showcased its commitment to STEM and the next generation of engineers and scientists at the Aramco F1® in Schools 2023 World Finals in Singapore, where Germany’s Recoil Racing emerged as the winning team, earning praise for their passion, creativity, and skill.
The six 16- to 18-year-olds from Marie-Therese-Gymnasium in Erlangen emerged as winners over 67 teams. Propulsion from Australia secured second place, and Nightingale from England took third.
Aramco Public Affairs vice president Khalid A. Al Zamil presented the winners’ trophy, saying, “We are keenly interested in STEM education. That is what has made our world today and will make our world for the future.”
Determining the course of history
Al Zamil continued: “Aramco is proud to once again be title sponsor of Aramco F1® in Schools 2023 World Finals. I believe the future will be shaped by those who excel in STEM subjects, which is why this event is so important. The participants have proven themselves more than capable of taking on the complex challenges around sustainability, technology, and innovation that will determine the course of history.”
Recoil Racing won full bursary scholarships to UCL Mechanical Engineering and an exclusive Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2023 experience, which saw them receive the trophy again on the Formula 1 podium on the qualifying day of the event.
Saudi Arabia’s Oryx returned from Singapore with the BWT Alpine F1 Team Innovative Thinking Award, one of 19 specialist awards recognizing the range of skills needed to succeed at F1® in Schools, 10 of which were supported by Formula 1 teams.
The three Saudi teams — Oryx, Shaheen, and Abiyya — gained the honor of representing their country after winning the top three spots at the Kingdom’s National Finals, held in June at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) in Dhahran.
Gary Anderson, head judge and former Jordan and Jaguar technical director, noted that the competition tested a range of skills. It was not just about performance on the 20-meter race track.
“The judges and I were incredibly impressed by all the entries in this year’s F1® in Schools World Finals, but the members of Recoil Racing are worthy World Champions. Speed is not everything in this competition: project management, marketing, teamwork, innovation, and communication all matter,” he said.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “F1® in Schools is a fantastic initiative, igniting a passion for STEM subjects in the next generation, and every year I am amazed at the standard of competition. I have no doubt I will see many of the competitors working in the F1 Paddock in the near future.”
F1® in Schools is keen to increase diversity in motorsport and promote sustainability, working closely with organizations such as the FIA’s Women in Motorsport and The Earth Prize. The all-girls team, Athena Racing, from Greece received the FIA Women in Motorsport Award for their energy and positivity throughout the event.
Saudi teams as flagbearers
Meanwhile, the three Saudi teams were noted flagbearers for diversity in Singapore, as 12 of the 18 team members were girls, and in the National Finals in June, 68% of the students in the finals were female.
F1® in Schools founder and chairman Andrew Denford, said: “Once again, I was blown away by the level of innovation and quality at the 2023 Aramco F1® in Schools World Finals. Recoil Racing fought off the fiercest competition we have seen, with a record number of entries and new countries participating. I can’t wait to see how the next generation uses their knowledge to improve the sport.”
Aramco became a Global Energy Partner of Formula 1 in 2020 and also sponsors the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1® Team.
Captions of the top photo: All 68 teams visit the Singapore Grand Prix track. Photo credit: F1® in Schools
