Created: 2026.02.25. 09:26
Horváth Hanna obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Vehicle Engineering at Széchenyi István University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Aerodynamics at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Since her teenage years, the young professional had aspired to work in the world of Formula 1, and her dream has now become a reality: the former student from Győr is today an intern with the eight-time world champion Mercedes team.
Széchenyi István University plays an important role in the development of the automotive industry. Its mission is to educate professionals equipped with up-to-date knowledge who can succeed on the international stage. Several of the institution’s students have gone on to work at the highest levels of motorsport: some in rallying, while others have found their place in Formula 1. Among them is Hanna Horváth, who graduated in Vehicle Engineering from the institution in Győr and is now working as an intern at Mercedes.
The professional graduated in 2022 from the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Engineering, and throughout her undergraduate studies she was a member of the Arrabona Racing Team (ART), which competes in the Formula Student series. “Even during secondary school, I planned to continue my studies at Széchenyi University, as I saw that the institution was building the future, with a modern curriculum, a contemporary campus and excellent opportunities. I joined ART in my first year and spent four years taking part in development work, which provided me with an exceptional amount of practical experience,” she explained. She added that aerodynamics had always interested her the most; however, there are few specialised programmes available in this field in Hungary, a gap she was able to compensate for through her work in the relevant division of the student team.
After obtaining her degree, Hanna Horváth worked at Jaguar Land Rover and also completed a postgraduate programme in space technology. She was subsequently admitted to the aerodynamics specialisation of the Aerospace Engineering Master’s programme at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, where she is currently completing her practical year. “Even as a secondary school student, I wanted to work in the world of Formula 1, so I was delighted when I was accepted as an intern by the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. I am now halfway through my one-year placement. I am part of the aerodynamics team, which is the largest engineering department,” she said. The young professional is currently working in Brackley, England – home of the team – in Mercedes’ experimental aerodynamics research and development department.
“My group mainly deals with various measurement techniques: wind tunnel development and improving the related correlations. For example, I was fully entrusted with the calibration of the Pitot tube on the nose of the car; that was mainly my responsibility. We carry out very interesting work – we even use robots to support various measurement processes in order to increase accuracy and reduce measurement errors. I enjoy the fast pace of the projects, the variety of tasks and the fact that we have to solving many problems that require, for instance, coding skills” she elaborated. She added that she finds it exciting to receive rapid feedback on her work, as the results of each development become visible immediately during testing sessions and races.
The former student from Győr revealed that at Mercedes there are regular management briefings and meetings where anyone may put questions to the leadership and even to the drivers. “I have already had the opportunity to meet Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, and even Team Principal Toto Wolff uses the same gym and dining hall as everyone else. The atmosphere is close-knit, colleagues treat one another kindly, while representing their professional fields at the highest possible standard,” she emphasised.
Hanna Horváth highlighted that the knowledge she acquired at Széchenyi István University contributed significantly to her current career. “With ART, we were in a fortunate position compared not only to other Hungarian teams but also to international ones, as we were able to work on our developments in a large, separate workshop. We operated in a supportive environment not only in terms of infrastructure but also professionally; we were surrounded by a helpful community and a reliable network of partners,” she underlined. She advises current students to remain committed to their goals, to trust in their own abilities and to continuously develop themselves.
