Aeronautics undergraduate wins placement with Williams F1 team

A fourth-year aeronautics student won the Autosport Williams Engineer of the Future Award at a ceremony last week.

Sam O’Neill, who claimed the prize after an intensive two-day evaluation process at the Williams team headquarters, will start a two-year placement with the Formula 1 team after he graduates in MEng Aeronautics this year.

The award ceremony, which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, saw Sam win his prize in front of a large audience, including current F1 world champion Nico Rosberg, retiring Williams driver Felipe Massa and Mercedes Technical Director Paddy Lowe.

Sam said: "When I won it was a complete shock, especially having to be interviewed by verteran broadcaster Steve Rider with Pat Symonds [Williams Chief Technical Officer] looking on. It was an incredible experience."

The award comes after a rigorous two-day assessment process in November where the five selected finalists’ knowledge and personalities were put to the test. The challenges included written examinations, a personality assessment and a variety of practical challenges, as well as a technical interview with a panel of five F1 experts.

Sam explained: "Overall it was a tough, challenging but very enjoyable two days, highlighted by the incredible opportunity to have dinner with the panel in the Williams museum."

The process began back in April when Sam applied to be put forward as one of the College's nominees and wrote an essay on how he would change regulations to improve the Formula 1 spectacle. Following an interview at the Williams team headquarters he was selected as one of the five finalists to compete in the two-day assessment.

Looking ahead to the placement at Williams F1 in Grove, Oxfordshire, Sam said: "I'm greatly looking forward to building my experience of how a racing team is run and understanding what is necessary to be a technical director in F1."

He added: “I can’t wait to start next summer!”