Herts apprentice who was bedbound for three years as a teen lands dream engineering role with Oracle Red Bull Racing
George Richardson, from Milton Keynes, graduated with first‑class honours from Herts in 2025 and immediately secured his dream role as a full‑time engineer with the prestigious Oracle Red Bull Racing team. His appointment followed his achievement as Red Bull Racing & Red Bull Technology’s first Degree Apprentice, completing the programme with a Distinction in October 2025.
George’s journey has been far from straightforward, however. Once a healthy, active child, his life changed dramatically at 12 when he developed ME/CFS, leaving him unable to stand or attend school for almost three years.
“I woke up one morning and I simply couldn’t get out of bed,” he said. “Many thought it was psychosomatic, but my family supported me throughout.”
It ended up taking nine months to get an official diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – something that came as something of a “bittersweet relief” for George and his family. However, diagnosis didn’t mean an immediate recovery: and for almost three years, George was either in bed or on the sofa.
With steady physiotherapy and determination, George slowly rebuilt his strength. But the impact on his education was significant.
“The school would send me work to do but I was too brain fogged to do much. I missed practically three years of schooling, and my mum was told I wouldn’t amount to anything.”
A key turning point came when George successfully applied to Silverstone UTC, the motorsport focused technical college near the home of British Formula One. Despite concerns about his health and energy levels, the college recognised his passion – something that stemmed from watching Formula One with his grandfather - and agreed to support a phased start. Here he went from strength to strength, eventually winning the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Student of the Year Award in 2019 and getting to the final stage of interviews for a Mercedes apprenticeship.
Just as his future looked assured, COVID19 hit - and the apprenticeship George had worked so hard for collapsed. He ended up working in retail for a year while he applied for other apprenticeships – and was rejected over 20 times. Still, George didn’t give up - eventually beating over 500 other candidates to secure a highly regarded Degree Apprentice with aerospace company Leonardo through the University of Hertfordshire. He was ecstatic.
But the transition was tricky at first. A loss of confidence from his previous setbacks and year off - and also a time marked by the loss of his beloved grandfather - George struggled to manage his work and studies, and his grades fell dramatically.
“The moment that switched it for me was I'd completely failed my Fluid Mechanics exam,” he says. “I decided it was time for a reset, and changed how I revised, asked for help from my university tutors, and became more disciplined.” From that point on, his results transformed – with him averaging 82% in his final years to achieve his overall first-class honours degree.
George also interviewed for Oracle Red Bull Racing during this time, who instantly offered him a job – and even agreed to transfer his apprenticeship to finish it with them.
“I’d applied thinking I’d have no chance – so when they said they wanted me I was absolutely over the moon,” he says.
Now, as an Aerodynamic Design Engineer for Oracle Red Bull Racing, George turns aerodynamic concepts into components for wind tunnel testing.
“My role is about problem-solving - turning CFD (computational fluid dynamics) surfaces into real parts within days,” he said. “The pace in Formula One is relentless, and that’s what I love.
While humble about his remarkable achievements, George recognises that his story is one of resilience and determination. His advice for anyone on a similar path is simple:
“Stay positive, ask for help when you need it, and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. Work hard, persevere, and believe in yourself.”
The University of Hertfordshire is a leading provider of Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, offering programmes that allow learners to earn while they learn and gain qualifications from foundation level through to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Apprentices are employed full‑time and receive dedicated off‑the‑job training alongside expert academic support and full access to university facilities, helping them build real‑world skills from day one. Herts partners with a wide network of national and local employers to ensure apprentices develop the practical, industry‑aligned expertise that organisations need.
Celeste Jones, Associate Director of Apprenticeships at the University of Hertfordshire, said: “George’s journey is a powerful reminder of what apprenticeships make possible. They offer not just a route into employment, but a new source of purpose, confidence and opportunity. We are incredibly proud to have supported him on his path to Formula One.”
National Apprenticeship Week 2026 (NAW) takes place from 9–15 February 2026, celebrating the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals, employers and the wider economy. This year’s theme, “Skills for Life,” highlights how apprenticeships help people of all ages build the knowledge and confidence needed to succeed throughout their careers.