By Alya Natasha Azhar
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia just landed the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, and it’s far more than a victory lap for the Sepang International Circuit (SIC).
This is a high-octane demonstration for every young mind in the country that motorsport is not just about speed. It is science on overdrive.
Though this is a one-off race, prompted by an unexpected calendar shake-up, experts see it as a golden moment to reveal F1 for what it truly is: a live, high-speed classroom where cutting-edge technology meets real-world science.
Universiti Malaya’s (UM) STEM Centre director, Assoc Prof Dr Mas Sahidayana Mokhtar, puts it plainly. F1 is not just about fast cars. It is a technology ecosystem in motion, a vivid showcase of how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics translate into tangible, real-world solutions.
Beneath those blistering speeds exceeding 300km/h lies a symphony of scientific disciplines of mechanical engineering, aerodynamics, data analytics and artificial intelligence, all working in harmony to build each machine.
“F1 embodies STEM in its most tangible form, through the mechanical engineering of the car, the physics of the circuit layout, the chemistry of fuels, the mathematics of speed, and even the biology of the driver.
“These are the dimensions we need to highlight, so that the younger generation sees F1 not just as entertainment, but as a concrete application of STEM in action,” she told Bernama.
She adds that exposure to F1 can help students bridge the gap between classroom STEM lessons and their real-world industrial applications, shifting the perception that these subjects are purely theoretical.
Beyond the track, she points out that motorsport offers a wide range of career pathways far beyond becoming a driver, from mechanical engineering and materials science to software programming, data analytics, race strategy, sports physiotherapy and occupational health and safety.
Her views are echoed by Shafiq Rosli, director and race engineer of M's Racing, who stressed that an F1 team's success hinges on multidisciplinary expertise, not just the skill behind the wheel.
He emphasised that the growth of the motorsport industry demands talent across technical, strategic, and team management domains, making it a rich, varied field for future professionals.
Shafiq Rosli makes it clear that a racing team's success depends on close collaboration across multiple roles, from drivers and race engineers to technical crews and strategy specialists.
Every position has its own critical function, he explains. The race engineer ensures that strategies are grounded in precise analysis and data, while the technical crew keeps the car in peak condition. It is this seamless teamwork that ultimately drives a team to victory.
For young people eyeing a career in motorsport, he advises building strong technical skills and automotive knowledge, with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathways as a key platform for talent development.
He emphasises that nurturing talent in this industry requires looking at the entire ecosystem, not just producing drivers, but also cultivating professionals across technical and management fields.
He believes Malaysia has strong potential to grow its local motorsport workforce, given the public's deep interest in all things automotive, combined with the availability of career opportunities and world-class facilities like the SIC.
-- BERNAMA