2025 Highlight

The 2025 Formula Student competition at Silverstone was a fantastic experience. Waking up at the campsite to the roar of hypercars on the circuit, queuing up for cold showers, it was a week of innovation, dedication and teamwork.

Rain and Hypercars

Watching the hypercars pace the wet track was amazing, seeing the water be thrown up around the car as the engines screamed past. Not nearly as fast as our car of course, but everyone starts somewhere. Setting up the tents turned out to be the hardest part of the week. Once they were up we headed to the FSAI Tech Hub to start working on our system and register for time on the ADSDV sim.

Static Events

The statics team had the luxury of using the high-end hospitality suites overlooking the track to practice presentation deliveries. A nice change from the uneven patch of grass they’d been sleeping on the night before. All that practice paid off in the end with all-point-scoring finishes, including a top 3 finish in the case study presentation “Is the world ready for autonomous driving?”.

Networking and real working

Silverstone wasn't just about the competition; it was a chance for networking. There were a host of sponsors from computer science, engineering, and motorsport industries. Mithun made sure to not waste any time in tracking down every F1 rep on the paddock. Plenty of interesting conversation, offering insights and future collaborations for both individual team members and Bristol FSAI. Most of our days were spent in the "Formula Student AI Tech Hub," a caffeine fueled center where teams were constantly refining their systems. It was a place of intense focus, stress, late-night sessions, celebration, sleeping members, and some very overpriced (but admittedly very nice) food!

Camping Learning Curves

Camping in a field near the circuit had its ups and downs. The camaraderie around the tents, sharing stories and laughs with other FS teams, was brilliant. However valuable lessons were also learnt. Don't pitch on a slope, make sure your tent isn't closest to the footpath, bring a sleeping bag, make sure your tent is waterproof, and don't bring suitcases (yes, plural) camping. Mud became a permanent accessory for a few days, but despite this the evenings were full of laughter and socialising (special thanks to our friends at UWE FSAI). A great way to wind down after an intense day a the circuit.

McDonalds

After days of braving the elements (and Oxford Brooks students), there was one place that became our anchor, McDonald's. A sanctuary of warmth, (slightly more reasonably priced) food, and a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the track. Sometimes, a simple Big Mac and fries are all you need to recharge for another day. It was a great way to wrap up a day, sat around a big table sharing stories and tips from different teams, how to sneak into suits, or share conversations with FS sponsors. McDonalds became our reassuring home away from home.

Formula Student 2025 was a great experience, filled with learning, challenges, and unforgettable memories. It’s all to come for 2026. We can't wait to leave our mark again, and climb even higher up the Formula Student leaderboard!