Career Spotlight: A winning ‘Formula’ for RGS Alumnus
With the recent success of Max Verstappen’s and Red Bull Racing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix just before Christmas, we were delighted to hear from RGS alumnus, Owen Carless (1995-02), and find out more about his role as Head of Mechanical Simulations for Red Bull Powertrains, Formula One power unit manufacturing company.
Owen has worked at Formula One’s Red Bull Racing since 2008. He explained his role: “I look after a team of specialist engineers who are responsible for computer simulations on anything that is not a burning gas or a flow of electrons. We’re currently building up both the team and the wider business, so there’s no such thing as an average day! Generally, I’m splitting my time between recruitment, developing simulation processes with external suppliers and internal groups, and helping to guide and mentor the team itself.”
When he was at RGS, Owen had a clear idea that he wanted to work in automotive engineering and he said he thrived on the challenge of modelling physical components and systems with mathematical equations. Surprisingly however, Owen chose Art ahead of Design Technology for GCSE which, he reflects: “taught me the importance of creativity and being able to convert ideas into drawings and sketches.”
Owen went on to read Automotive Engineering at University and, after he graduated, it was suggested that his interests might fit well with the design consultants and pioneers of internal combustion engines, Ricardo. And so it proved to be. Owen said: “I was lucky to be able to learn a great deal from some particularly experienced engineers at Ricardo. When I saw a job advertised at Red Bull Racing, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work in Formula One, even if I did apply out of hope rather than any expectation of being especially qualified for the role. That was back in 2008 and I’ve been working for Red Bull ever since.”
Thinking back to his time at RGS, Owen said: “As a pupil I have to confess that I wasn’t always willing to push myself to fulfil my potential before I joined RGS, but the drive and determination instilled in me by the School, went a long way towards helping me succeed in higher education. Although I didn’t always enjoy it at the time, the regular series of tests at RGS helped enormously with my exam technique and meant that at university I could ‘bank’ good scores in formally assessed units, and concentrate on improving my scores on units which were practically assessed.”
Owen added: “Despite being far from the best performer on the sports pitch I can also thank RGS for helping build a love of team sports – I can vividly remember a lobbed goal over the head of PJOS [Mr O’Sullivan] one Wednesday afternoon that was the unquestionable highlight of a mediocre football career – which I have continued to this day”. The other area where RGS really set me off in the right direction was in public speaking: I had never been confident enough to stand up in front of my peers and present any sort of material, without the experience of learning to do it at the School first. Whilst I don’t by any means do it regularly, I have presented long lectures to audiences of several hundred people, which is something that the eleven year old me would have found truly horrifying!”
It was great to hear from Owen and to see how much he is enjoying his career. RGS clearly set him on the right path and gave him the skills he has needed for success. We wish him all the very best for the next Formula One season.
