From Autosport · Filip Cleeren · · 1m 50s
STEM Racing builds F1 talent pipeline
Six Saudi students win STEM Racing World Final 2026, gaining F1 pathways.
In brief
Six Saudi students win STEM Racing World Final 2026, gaining F1 pathways. Six Saudi high school students from Team Lynx Racing won STEM Racing World Final 2026, securing potential F1 careers through the competition. Originally reported by Autosport.
Team Lynx Racing wins STEM Racing World Final 2026
Six Saudi Arabian high school students from Team Lynx Racing won the 2026 STEM Racing World Final in Singapore.
“They are known as Team Lynx Racing, the recently crowned winner of the annual STEM Racing World Finals, which was held in Singapore during the week leading up to the grand prix.”
Lynx Racing meets F1 stars
Team Lynx Racing received the 2026 trophy on the actual grand prix podium and met two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
“They enjoyed an Aston Martin garage tour.”
STEM Racing's engineering challenge
Teams design and manufacture miniature F1 cars powered by CO2 cartridges to launch across a 20-metre track.
“The goal is to launch the car across a 20-metre track as quickly as possible, some reaching speeds of up to 70km/h.”
Global competition scale
The 2026 edition featured 91 student teams from 36 different countries competing for awards.
“The 2026 edition in Singapore was the biggest one yet, with 91 student teams from 36 different countries represented, competing for a number of different awards judging their prowess.”
Real F1 engineering skills
Teams use professional CAD software to design cars, testing aerodynamics and reducing drag.
“Despite the cars' miniature sizes, the competition itself bears more than just a passing resemblance to f1. Teams are free to design and manufacture the cars themselves using professional cad software, putting their knowledge of aerodynamics to the test as they shave drag off their cars.”
CNC and 3D printing process
Cars are manufactured on CNC routers with 3D printed front and rear wings.
“The end product is manufactured on a cnc router, with the front and rear wings being 3d printed before being assembled, painted and finally raced.”
Off-track skills required
Teams must build marketing portfolios, sponsorship plans, brands, and pit booth displays.
“Teams have to build a marketing portfolio and sponsorship plan, create a brand, hold verbal presentations to judges and build a pit booth display to combine all of that into an impressive product.”
Funding challenges
Teams face financial barriers to travel to Singapore for the World Final.
“The question of marketing and funding becomes especially pertinent for teams who make it to the World Final and face a trip to singapore, which is not an inexpensive undertaking for a group of up to six members plus their teacher or adult guide.”
Student perspectives
Students gain confidence through high-pressure team presentations.
“I think it's important to gain experience, but i also love the competition element, says noah of german team spectrum, which would go on to take the third podium spot.”
F1 talent pipeline
STEM Racing alumni have entered F1 teams through engineering academies.
“Greece's kyriakos theofanidis won the event in 2016 and is currently a mechanical engineer at red bull ford powertrains.”
Career pathways
Alumni have pursued engineering roles at F1 teams and beyond.
“James mitchell from australia competed at the world finals as recently as 2023 before being snapped up by aston martin.”
F1 team support
F1 teams use STEM Racing to identify young engineering talent.
“All teams realise the importance of young talent in the team. New ideas and people contribute so much.”
McLaren's graduate scheme
McLaren has a graduate scheme that places students in F1 teams.
“We have a very established graduate scheme at mclaren and many of the people who've come off that scheme are here at track this weekend, like oscar's performance engineer and our lead strategist.”
Future talent pathways
Students may pursue F1 careers, aerospace, or other paths after STEM Racing.
“Wherever the future may take any of the 2026 finalists is up in the air. Some will make it to the f1 paddock, the aerospace industry, or take a wildly different and unrelated career path that hasn't even emerged on the horizon yet.”
The short version
Six Saudi high school students from Team Lynx Racing won STEM Racing World Final 2026, securing potential F1 careers through the competition.
