Engineers Australia will showcase engineering innovations trackside at the FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2026, hosting an interactive Innovation Hub at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.
The hub will highlight the engineering behind Formula 1®, from aerodynamics and data analytics to materials science and sustainability, and link these concepts to careers across transport, energy, infrastructure and climate solutions, as revealed in a news release.
More than 20 exhibitors will participate in the hub, with Engineers Australia delivering its own interactive booth in partnership with Robogals, The National Science and Engineering Challenge and Year 13.
Activities will include a LEGO robotics challenge, an F1 rear wing design test, and a reaction time game featuring live leaderboards and prizes.
Engineers Australia Chief Engineer Katherine Richards said Formula 1 provides a compelling way to engage students with STEM subjects.
“Formula 1 puts engineering front and centre, and that visibility matters, especially when we’re trying to encourage young people to engage with, and persevere in, STEM subjects,” Richards said.
“It shows students that maths and science aren’t abstract — they’re the tools behind innovation, teamwork and some of the world’s most exciting careers.”
Richards noted that participation in mathematics and science often declines as subjects become more challenging.
“The Innovation Hub is about helping students understand that sticking with STEM opens doors far beyond the racetrack,” she said. “These subjects develop fundamental life skills, and they are the entry ticket to roles that are creative, dynamic, collaborative and deeply impactful.”
She added that inspiring students to pursue STEM is critical to Australia’s future. “Engineering capability underpins our economy and our ability to solve complex problems,” Richards said. “Inspiring the next generation is essential if Australia is to remain innovative and prosperous.”
Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Commercial Officer Emma Pinwill said the Innovation Hub will highlight the role of engineering in Formula 1 while encouraging young people to explore STEM careers.
“The Engineers Australia Innovation Hub is a celebration of the future of technology, showcasing the many pathways our talented young people can take into STEM careers,” Pinwill said. “With innovation and engineering so central to the sport of Formula 1, we hope this activation will inspire many of the fans at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit this March.”
The Engineers Australia Innovation Hub will be open to visitors throughout the race weekend.
