Hard work, determination and friendship fuels apprentices’ F1 dreams

Article featured in the latest issue of the AMRC Journal.

Meet Charlotte and Sophie, two University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre apprentices whose drive has taken them straight to the pit lanes of Formula 1 with McLaren Racing – a journey built on skill, ambition and friendship in the high-stakes world of motorsport.

For machining apprentices Charlotte Carrington, 20, and Sophie Hulse, 19, walking into the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking is a powerful reminder of the unparalleled opportunity they've seized. These young women aren't just learning a trade; they're forging careers with one of Formula 1's most iconic teams.

For both Charlotte and Sophie, the spark of motorsport engineering ignited early.

Charlotte, from an all-girls school, honed her skills through practical projects like racing electric cars and participating in educational programmes such as STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools). These experiences led to mentorship and involvement with Girls on Track, a joint initiative between the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Motorsport UK to empower women in motorsport. 

Sophie's fascination with Formula 1, on the other hand, began at home. Supported by her school's design and technology department, she was determined to pursue a practical career and proactively reached out to many teams. 

"I wrote letters, like physical letters to every single UK-based team," she says. "When they didn't reply, I sent emails asking for feedback, and then another email nudging for more feedback." 

This tenacity landed her crucial work experience, proving her drive for a hands-on path. 

When it came to further education, an apprenticeship offered the practical experience they both desired. Sophie, whose parents both completed apprenticeships, knew it was the right option for her. "University was never really the route I wanted to go down," explains Sophie. "My dad in particular was very keen on the apprenticeship route."

In September last year, Charlotte and Sophie both joined the AMRC Training Centre, based on the former site of the Orgreave coking works in South Yorkshire, to pursue a machining apprenticeship.

Every week, they spend three days in the training centre’s state-of-the-art workshops, immersing themselves in complex machining processes and mastering the precise skills required for advanced manufacturing. The remaining days are dedicated to core knowledge development, ensuring they have a deep theoretical understanding to complement their practical skills. 

The AMRC Training Centre's industry-rooted environment has been pivotal for Charlotte who appreciates the centre’s engineering facilities, where the apprentices work with equipment mirroring what they'll find in industry. For Sophie, it is the ‘unique connection’ with instructors that matter to her.

"The trainers are all from within industry,” says Sophie “It feels like you're talking to a colleague rather than like a teacher or an authority figure. This collaborative atmosphere fosters genuine learning and gives a taste of the professional world.”

Beyond technical skills, the apprentices also received practical support, including University of Sheffield accommodation for the first year – helping ease the transition into their new lives hundreds of miles away from home. 

Sophie says: "That was a really big help because it was very stressful trying to find a flat, especially when you're 18 and you don't really know what you're doing."

Once a month, the two friends travel to Surrey to visit the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. This allows them to shadow experienced team members, observe projects and integrate into the high-performance culture; seeing firsthand how their training translates to real-world F1 applications. 

"I feel like I'm pinching myself every time I walk onto the boulevard," Sophie says, referring to McLaren's iconic walkway adorned with historical racing cars. Charlotte echoes the sentiment, she describes as ‘almost so out of this world that you don't really believe you're there.’

However, the most special and heartwarming aspect of their apprenticeship journey so far has been the friendship that has blossomed between the two of them, having discovered early on that they would be sharing a twin room for three weeks during their induction period. 

"We were literally just thrown in," says Charlotte, laughing as she recalls sharing pot noodles and bonding over TV shows and late-night talks.

Now living next door to each other in the University of Sheffield accommodation, their bond is a lifeline. 'We just knock on the wall,' says Sophie, describing their easy collaboration for coursework and mutual support while navigating challenges in a traditionally male-dominated field. It’s invaluable, she says, having someone ‘just to rant at’ or talking about things that were difficult or challenging.

“Most times, we're both in the same boat,” said Sophie.

Drawing notes from her journey, Sophie offers direct advice to other aspiring young apprentices: "Don't be shy. Pester people." She encourages individuals to speak up and not let others ‘speak over what you're trying to say.’ Charlotte, in turn, emphasises the importance of self-worth, saying: "Know why you've done a good job, and know when you've earned it."

McLaren Racing are committed in paving the way for early careers and apprentices who are keen in joining the motorsport industry. McLaren Racing have now employed both Charlotte and Sophie after their time at AMRC completing an apprenticeship.

Both Charlotte and Sophie’s impact is already being felt. Charlotte, for instance, experienced a full-circle moment when she returned to a Girls on Track event, this time fielding questions as a McLaren Racing employee, rather than being an attendee. Similarly, Sophie connected with a younger student seeking advice, realising she had become a role model.

Reflecting on years of dedication, Charlotte challenges any kind of notion that their success is down to luck. "When people go, 'oh, yeah, you're so lucky,' I think ‘but I've just spent ten years building myself up',” she says. Sophie added: "It's not luck. Anybody can do it. You just have to put in the effort." 

And what lays ahead? Their core aspirations are clear: to thrive within the engineering space, and to inspire all the little Charlottes and Sophies to make their mark in the world of STEM. 

Through their inspiring journey, nurtured by the AMRC Training Centre and accelerated at McLaren Racing, Charlotte and Sophie are proving that hard work, determination and the unwavering support of a friend are the true engines of success in the high-stakes world of Formula 1.