How were you involved in Formula Student?
I was team Leader for 3 years, with a specialism in Vehicle Dynamics & Powertrains (IC & EV).
Tell us about your experience on the Student Schemes at Mercedes AMG HPP?
My time on the student scheme started near the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Having been drafted in early to assist with the operation of the AMG Project 1, I was very swiftly put in a position of responsibility. While initially a little daunting, being able to own and be responsible for a small part of the operation was a very rewarding start to the Graduate Scheme. During this time, my targets and personal objectives were set which were challenging, but also achievable and another method for tracking personal progress. In addition, all grads and placements are given the required training to get the intake up to speed and be as effective as possible from the get-go.
Alongside work, there is also the social and community aspect to working at HPP. While I did not get to benefit from this initially as a result of the pandemic restricting any social gatherings, HPP is also very good at inducting the new intake ensuring that the new graduates and placement students are well acquainted with each other as well as their future permanent work colleagues via the onboarding platform. This is very helpful for organising houses, transport, social events etc.
Finally, HPP works hard to ensure a good working culture and celebrates its successes – both personally and companywide. Flexible working with the on-site gym, a choice of an hour or half an hour lunch to socialise/exercise and the on-site restaurant are all a fantastic asset to HPP which all employees enjoy. HPP is a fantastic place to work from many different angles.
What have you learned so far during your time at Mercedes AMG HPP?
There is a lot of product engineering at HPP, and it is very rare to not be positioned in some form of product engineering role while at HPP. Therefore gaining CAD experience, GD&T awareness and an understanding of the procedure of concept through to manufacture/procurement is all very useful. Additionally, top level knowledge of the F1 Power Unit operation and the envelope that the teams have to work within when at the track is also very critical.
What have you enjoyed most from your time at Mercedes AMG HPP?
On a day-to-day basis, the enjoyment really does come from working with many likeminded and knowledgeable people who are all working towards to the same goals. No day is the same, and each day presents a new challenge, pushing at the forefront of development.
But there are two moments that stand out as memories. The first is working on the W11 for the latter half of the 2020 season, helping develop performance for the most dominant F1 car from Mercedes and celebrating the Drivers and Constructors title achievement. Having then moved over to the Mercedes FE team for the start of Season 7, my second memorable moment is that I am a part of the team which then secures another Drivers and Constructors title clean sweep. It could be easy to think that the success would get old. But in reality, the success is celebrated in the moment and just a few days after, it is back to normal and hunting for the next. That is where the enjoyment is.
What would you say to anyone looking to apply to Mercedes AMG HPP’s student schemes?
My first recommendation is - always apply. Whether the application moves through to the next stage, interview, applicants day etc. the learning taken from going through the procedure is always valuable.
Secondly, FS is a fantastic platform to launch your pitch to Mercedes, whether at FS or via application directly. The percentage of employees at HPP that have experience of competing at FS is very high, so there is good knowledge for what it takes to be successful from FS and onwards. There is a lot of learning that is directly applicable to most roles in Mercedes. From an engineering perspective, the process of defining the problem/concept through to solution is extremely valuable. This applies to so many areas of the business - from design, manufacture, assembly, software, calibration and on-track performance to name a few areas.
Fortunately, FS presents many versions of this process, and it is this that we are interested to know about. Demonstrating through understanding what went well, what didn’t go well and how this was rectified with the least compromise and greatest performance, shows superior understanding and awareness. In addition, being good at concise and accurate report writing is important, as this remains a critical part of life at HPP so that ideas and results can be communicated effectively to the wider audience.
Finally, the attitude and mindset built in people competing in FS who are so keen to see their car race no matter how steep the climb, is exactly the attitude that brings success in both FS and the projects completed at HPP.
What advice would you give to this year’s Formula Student competitors?
Be enthusiastic, be honest and show off.
Every choice contains some form of compromise. The compromise can be big or small and there may be many of them, but making the decision on the best choice for your team requires quantifiable understanding of the compromises associated with them. The best decision at one team may not be the best decision for another, and this is perfectly acceptable.
Once again, Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains are excited to be involved in this year's Formula Student event. If you are attending this year and would like to find out more about their Graduate or Placement opportunities for 2023, please visit the Mercedes Marquee to talk to someone from the team.