Joel Vermiglio, a Motorsport graduate from our Class of 2012, has been back to Bridgwater to inspire current and potential University Centre Somerset students.
As Head of Trackside Systems, Joel is an integral part of McLaren Formula 1, which currently holds both the Formula 1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships. He and his team of 30 engineers are responsible for all of the electronic systems on the race-winning cars driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Joel very kindly squeezed a visit to Somerset in between testing in Bahrain last week and the first Grand Prix of the 2026 season in Australia next week. He spent time with Motorsport HND students and applicants, speaking to them about how his journey from UCS to Formula 1 “started in this very room”, and the hard work and persistence that it has taken for him to work his way up to the pinnacle of the industry.
Tom Bull, Course Leader at UCS, said,
“It was great to welcome Joel back to inspire our future motorsport engineers. The students particularly enjoyed showing him the UCS race cars and asking their F1-related questions during a podcast recording.”
The UCS Motorsport course has produced many graduates who have gone on to secure roles in all tiers of the motorsport industry. Applications are still open to join the September 2026 cohort. Find out more here.