F1 in Schools
High-performance miniature F1 car - Swiss National Runner-Up
Engineering / CAD / Leadership
The story
F1 in Schools was the first project where I felt engineering was not just about designing the object. I led the car design, but I also had to keep the team moving, organise the portfolio, and solve the real-world problem of getting the project funded in time for nationals.
Why I built it
One month before nationals, our funding fell through. We had spent months on CAD, CFD, testing, and presentations, but without the entry money none of that work would reach the track.
What I built
I rebuilt the sponsorship pitch around the engineering itself: CAD drawings, CFD visuals, performance charts, and a mock-up showing how Porsche could fit into the team identity. That pitch secured the support we needed, and the technical work carried us to Swiss National Runner-Up.
What I did
- Team captain - overall leadership and competition strategy
- Chief engineer - CAD design and aerodynamic optimisation
- Managed manufacturing timeline and quality control
- Led sponsorship pitches, including the Porsche Centre outreach that recovered the national entry
- Coordinated engineering, branding, strategy, and presentation work across the team
How I built it
Build flow
Design brief -> CAD modelling -> CFD iteration -> manufacture -> test -> race -> present.
How it works
The car was designed in CAD with aerodynamic features informed by CFD analysis, manufactured to tight tolerances, and race-tested for speed and reliability before national competition. The same engineering evidence was turned into a sponsor-ready story so the team could actually reach the start line.
Hardware
Software
What was hard
- Balancing drag reduction with stability and manufacturing constraints
- Coordinating multi-disciplinary team deliverables on schedule
- Maximising race performance within regulation limits
- Turning a last-minute funding failure into a credible technical sponsorship pitch
Demos and build notes
Results & impact
- ✓ Swiss National Runner-Up
- ✓ Swiss finalist at international level
- ✓ Secured 1,000 CHF in Porsche sponsorship after the original funding fell through
What I'd tell past me
- Half of engineering leadership is persuasion, not design - the funding pitch mattered as much as the CFD
- A finished CAD model is worthless if the team can't actually get to the race
If I keep going
- Mentor next year's team through the same funding crunch, hopefully earlier