Robbie White

My name is Robbie White, and I graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Sport and Materials Science BSc and The Science and Engineering of Materials MRes.

Today, I work as a Materials Science Engineer at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team.

My role involves identifying, testing, and evaluating new materials for the race car, ensuring that it’s as lightweight as possible without compromising reliability. I mainly work with carbon fibre composites, adhesives, and metallic materials.

A Day in my Life

A typical day for me starts with time spent in the laboratory, preparing and testing samples. Then, I analyse data on my desk. There are times when urgent issues arise, and I need to drop everything to resolve them.

My role is based in the factory, so I don’t attend races, but after each weekend’s race, I join the debrief sessions to review the team’s performance and, if things have gone well, to celebrate the achievements.

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing the parts I help develop perform at the highest level, racing on the track. I also get the opportunity to work on the UK’s entry for the America's Cup, a prestigious yacht competition, thanks to Mercedes’ technical partnership with Ineos Britannia. This has allowed me to apply my expertise in cutting-edge materials, particularly for high-performance racing yachts.

My Journey to Mercedes F1

I ended up in this role somewhat by chance. During my time at the University of Birmingham, a friend from the University Cycling Club mentioned her father’s business, Engenuity, which specialises in the structural analysis of composite materials. I reached out, had an interview, and was offered a job.

Over eight years at Engenuity, I worked on a variety of research and development projects in the automotive, aerospace, and wind energy sectors. This experience prepared me well for my current role at Mercedes F1.

My Birmingham Experience

My time at the University of Birmingham was a key part of my journey. I was exposed to research that tackled questions no one had the answers to, which helped me develop creative problem-solving skills that are crucial in my current job.

The technical content I learned was immediately relevant and gave me a strong foundation when I entered the workplace. The practical modules in both the Sports Science and Materials Engineering departments were some of the highlights of my degree and helped me apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems.

Birmingham's Impact

Looking back, my experience at the University of Birmingham has been integral to my career success. The academic and practical skills I gained have enabled me to contribute to one of the top F1 teams in the world.

I’m proud of how my journey has unfolded, and I’m grateful for the opportunities that began during my time at university.

My Achievements

My biggest achievement throughout my studies was winning Team Cycling Gold at the BUCS Hillclimb in 2011!

Advice for Students

My advice for anyone starting their career is not to limit yourself to just large companies or predefined graduate roles. Smaller organisations often offer more responsibility and faster learning opportunities.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask for support if you’re struggling. I battled with procrastination during my studies, but I can tell you that it’s possible to overcome it and stay on track.