Congratulations to alumna Martina King (Spurgeon’s 2024) who will be making a pit stop from her Computer Science degree at Cambridge University to join the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, for the Race Strategy Industrial Placement position from June 2026 to July 2027!
From a field of over 1,000 applicants and a rigorous application process involving interviews and assessment days, Martina has been offered the one position available! She also had to go through a tough approval process from her university to take a year out of her degree to work in industry – something only granted in exceptional circumstances.
The exciting role will involve Martina running race simulations for the team, carrying out competitor analysis, creating and adapting models for predicting factors such as expected tyre degradation, track conditions, safety car probabilities and live coding these during practice sessions, qualifiers, and the races themselves.
On being offered the place and getting approval that she could take a year out, Martina said:
“I don't think I stopped grinning for at least 48 hours! I can't wait to be working in such a fast-paced environment where everyone is so passionate and where I can see the direct impact of my work on a weekly basis.”
She continued: “Mercedes has a nice phrase where everyone contributes to their own tenth of a second - and I absolutely cannot wait to add (or rather remove?) my own tenth of a second!”
A huge fan of F1, Martina admitted she and her family are F1 Ferrari fans.
“The Italian side of my family have jokingly said they'll forgive me for not going to Ferrari, but only because Mercedes has an Italian driver,” she said. “When I got the call giving me the offer, I was told that I'd now have to start buying Lego Mercedes cars instead of adding to my current Lego Ferrari car collection!”
Congratulations and best of luck with this incredible role, Martina from all at Alleyn’s!
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Last updated on 01 09 26 at 09:44
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