Every Formula 1 enthusiast dreams of sitting in the cockpit, stepping on the gas and soaring down the track at an astonishing 233 mph—and now, that dream might be closer than ever.

“F1 in Schools” is an international competition mimicking certain aspects of F1. Participating teams design a car, create a brand, and write reports just as a company would. The competition is split into 3 stages: regionals, nationals and world finals. Teams qualify from one stage to the next, aiming to reach the world finals to compete for the championship trophy.

CDNIS’s “F1 in Schools” club has been established for two years. Their primary goal is to teach and prepare the next generation of members for the upcoming regional competition in May 2025. Three advanced teams have made it to the nationals: Luckycat Racing, Odyssey Racing, and Golden Aero Racing. In the coming months, these teams will be preparing Kaz Lam, a Grade 11 student and Head of Manufacturing for the team “Golden Aero” provided insight for students interested in joining CDNIS’s “F1 in Schools” club. He expressed, “It’s a great opportunity for team building…Working together in such a tight-knit operation requires delicate communication and cooperation. Everyone has their own unique skill sets when they join the team, and over time, everyone builds off of each other to learn more skills… It’s a great opportunity to make friends and learn how to lead a team.”

In addition to manufacturing, brand identity is a crucial aspect that the F1 team focuses on. Ian So, the Social Media Manager of Golden Aero, revealed that “through consistent posts and content generation, social media can help build a diverse audience around the team.” The media presence of an “F1 in Schools” team defines its brand image for both judges and prospective sponsors.

Overall, “F1 in Schools” is a great opportunity for students to have fun, while simultaneously engaging in creating a car and brand.