Sorsha Elson is carving out her place in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 as the first female Mechanical Engineering Apprentice. Her story stands out because she didn’t follow the traditional path into motorsport. In fact, her first career was as a flight attendant, where conversations with pilots and engineers sparked her curiosity about how complex machines operate. That spark quickly grew into a passion, leading her to take the leap into engineering.

Sorsha gained the confidence and opportunities she needed to pursue her ambitions. Now, with Formula 1, she works on the Event Technical Centre, playing a vital role in maintaining and repairing the equipment that keeps the championship running smoothly. It’s a demanding role that combines hands-on skills like TIG welding with rigorous theoretical training, often condensed into intense study schedules.

Sorsha is also a passionate advocate for representation in engineering. She points to Beyoncé as a personal source of empowerment, and to Sir Lewis Hamilton as a role model for breaking barriers and redefining what success looks like in F1. For Sorsha, being a visible presence in a male-dominated field is about more than her own career—it’s about inspiring the next generation of girls to believe they belong in STEM, too.

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