The Fast and the Farmer-ish: Ellie Pacey – the Mercedes apprentice who races tractors

Pacey’s interest in engines led her towards Silverstone University Technical college, where she studied engineering.

From there, she got an apprenticeship as a test technician for Mercedes AMG, a Formula 1 engine provider for Mercedes, McLaren, Aston Martin and Williams. She works across Mercedes EQXX, Mercedes One and the Formula 1 engines.

“I always knew I wanted to work within engineering, but I wasn’t quite sure what to do,” Pacey says. “I liked mechanics, but I thought to myself, being a girl, I’m probably not strong enough to be doing something like fixing cars or lorries, which was what my dad did.”

Through her course, though, she found the perfect fit.

“I discovered that I enjoyed running engines, seeing how much power you can get out of them, what changes you can make and what actually happens when you make those changes,” Pacey says.

Formula 1 and engineering are still male-dominated.

The last woman to race in a Formula 1 grand prix was Italian driver Lella Lombardi, back in 1976. Three other female drivers have since participated in the qualifying stages of a grand prix.