Beattie was one of more than 3500 applicants for a coveted graduate position with the team. Following her initial application, she went through a rigorous selection process, starting with a technical test from home before finding out that she had reached the interview stage and would be travelling from New Zealand to Milton Keynes to continue pursuing the position.<\/p>\n
Eloise Beattie among the serious machinery at the MK7 Building, where the Red Bull Academy and assessment day were held.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was insane that it happened so quickly. I got the message in late December and I was in Milton Keynes by the first week in January,\u201d Beattie says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe assessment day was amazing. I got to see the factory and meet really cool people, as well as having the actual interview. I flew home and got the news a few weeks later that I had the job. They called me at midnight New Zealand time and I missed the call, so I was left terrified, not knowing whether I wanted to get my hopes too high.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a start date of September 1 quickly locked in, Beattie flew over to Europe at the end of May and spent three months travelling in Europe before getting down to business.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got to make the most of being close to everything,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Since the start of September, Beattie has been employed as a graduate control engineer with Red Bull Powertrains, working on the energy reduction system. Her appointment coincides with two significant shifts, one for Formula One as a whole, the other for Red Bull themselves.<\/p>\n
First, the sport<\/a> is undergoing significant regulation changes in 2026, which will see lighter, more efficient cars, which are also more sustainable. From there, the hope is that there will be more wheel-to-wheel racing, which will appeal to fans. With 11 teams and 22 drivers on the Formula One grid in 2026, it\u2019s time for all competitors to reset after a set of regulations that has seen Red Bull largely dominate the sport since 2021.<\/p>\n In addition, Red Bull\u2019s long-standing relationship with engine supplier Honda comes to an end at the end of this year, a change which sees a new in-house division, Red Bull Powertrains, collaborate with Ford to not only supply engines for Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate, but also their junior team, Racing Bulls, which is currently home to Kiwi driver Liam Lawson<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe launch of the Red Bull Ford Powertrains era represents not only a bold step into the future, but a powerful expression of what\u2019s possible when world-class engineering, innovation and passion come together,\u201d Red Bull Racing CEO Laurent Mekies says.<\/p>\n Beattie says: \u201cIt\u2019s cool work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is about looking forward. There\u2019s always that foresight to see where the future\u2019s going with it and where the regulations are going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n The graduate role lasts for two years and at that time, Beattie and Red Bull will sit down and see what the future holds. But there\u2019s plenty of work to be done in the meantime, in a sport that is always innovating.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing programme at Red Bull. They focus on building up young engineers into what they want to be in the workforce. Fingers crossed I\u2019ll be here for the foreseeable future.\u201d<\/p>\n Just 12 months ago, Beattie could only have dreamt of where she is today, and she has words of advice and encouragement for any young women or men that want to enter the sport via this route.<\/p>\n \u201cHave the audacity to just go for it. You never know what\u2019s going to happen and as cliched as it sounds, you miss 100% of the shots you don\u2019t take. Back yourself. I wasn\u2019t the most qualified applicant and I had zero experience and as a graduate you\u2019re not expected to have any. It\u2019s the work ethic and the ability to learn that got me the role. Apply, because you never know.\u201d<\/p>\nSome of the Red Bull team, pictured after Max Verstappen’s win at Monza, Italy.<\/p>\n