By Thomas Møller Christensen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photos and graphics: Viaplay

How do you go from a university project to working for one of the world's most successful Formula 1 teams? Just ask Esben Breum Andersen. He graduated with an MSc in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at Aalborg University (AAU). During his studies, he was part of AAU Racing, a racing team at AAU where students from different fields design and build a race car for the annual international Formula Student races.

Esben is currently a Mechanical Design Engineer graduate with Red Bull's Formula 1 team, and in a new reportage, Viaplay has documented his journey. It follows his work at Red Bull Racing where he designs components to ensure Red Bull has an optimal internal combustion engine when the team launches its engine program in 2026.

Secured AAU Racing's best result ever

Esben has been a passionate motorsport fan all his life, so it was obvious for him to join AAU Racing when he started studying at AAU. One of his projects was to develop an intake manifold for an internal combustion engine – a project that initially did not go quite according to plan. The intake manifold exploded just before an important race, but thanks to Esben and his team's persistent efforts it was repaired in time, securing AAU Racing their best result ever.

"The great thing about a Formula Student team is that you get to be the design engineer, the mechanic who puts it on the car, and the one who then has to explain why it broke down when it broke down. Because everything is just tested immediately," Esben explains in the reportage about his time at AAU Racing.

From AAU Racing to Formula 1

The great feat caught Red Bull's attention and Esben's first visit to England was thus not a sightseeing trip; it was a job interview at Red Bull Racing's headquarters in Milton Keynes, north of London. The trip was a watershed moment for his career as he was able to pack his bags and move to England shortly after to start his dream job in August 2023.

"I'm quite sure that Red Bull looked at me being on a Formula Student team when I applied for the position and they were considering whether they should take me on," says Esben.

At lunch with idols

Viaplay's reportage on Esben's journey provides fascinating insight into the challenges he faces in his daily work and how he navigates life as an engineer among Formula 1's elite. It also shows life behind the scenes in Formula 1 where Esben works alongside some of the sport's biggest stars.

"I've always been a huge Ricciardo fan (Formula 1 driver for Red Bull, ed.) and now I've somehow become a colleague of Ricciardo. At least I see him a lot in the canteen," says Esben with a smile.

Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs.