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Two Brazilian Students Have Just Achieved a Historic Feat: Lucas Paiva and Gustavo Vieira Alcântara, Students of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Have Been Selected to Join the Team Responsible for Developing the New Engine of Red Bull in Formula 1.
The duo will travel to England in July 2025 for a 12-month full-time internship at Red Bull Powertrains, where they will have the chance to work directly on the new engine that will power the team’s cars in the upcoming seasons.
A Unique Opportunity for Brazilians in the Elite of Motorsport
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of automotive engineering, and participating in the construction of a new engine for a world champion team is a rare experience for any student. Lucas and Gustavo were selected through the Student Placement program, which offers positions for young talents to work at Red Bull Racing & Technology and Red Bull Powertrains in Milton Keynes, England.
Brazil has had great names in F1, such as Ayrton Senna and Nelson Piquet, but seeing Brazilian students directly involved in the development of the engines is a sign of the potential of our engineers. UFSC, one of the most prestigious universities in the country, demonstrated its strength by placing these students within one of the largest teams in the world.
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Who Are the Selected Students?
Lucas Paiva and Gustavo Vieira Alcântara are Electrical Engineering students and have been chosen to work in strategic sectors of Red Bull Powertrains. For one year, they will have direct contact with some of the brightest minds in motorsport, participating in mechanical development, calibration, validation, and testing of the team’s new engine.
This experience can be a game changer for their careers. Working at Red Bull means dealing with cutting-edge technology, innovation, and constant challenges. In the world of F1, a thousandth of a second can make all the difference, and every adjustment to the engine can determine performance on the track.
What Will They Do in the Development of the New Engine?
The Brazilians will work directly at Red Bull Powertrains, a sector created to develop the new engine of the team after Honda’s departure as a supplier. Their roles include:
- Mechanical design of the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and ERS (Energy Recovery System)
- Engine calibration and control
- Validation and testing in laboratory and dynamometer
- Technical operations to ensure maximum efficiency and performance
The internship will allow them to have contact with other essential areas, such as Electronics, Aerodynamics, R&D Testing, Vehicle Dynamics, and even Race Strategy.
The Emotion of Receiving the News
Imagine attending a regular class when suddenly your phone rings with an international code. That’s exactly what happened to Lucas Paiva.
“I was in class, between 7 AM and 8 AM, when I received a call with the +44 code from England. It was the team speaking in English about the position. I simply stopped paying attention to the rest. I was in shock! I ran out of class to tell everyone. For about 30 minutes, it felt like I was dreaming. It was an amazing feeling.”
His reaction shows how significant this achievement is. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to work in Formula 1 and on the development of a new engine, especially within a championship-winning team like Red Bull.
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