Two young Singaporeans, Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin, have clinched an opportunity of a lifetime when they emerged victorious in the competitive Red Bull Intern Championship. Both Chua and Heng, students at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), who beat thousands of other Singaporean residents, were notified via a special message from three-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Chua and Heng will undertake a two-month internship at the illustrious Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. 

Charis Chua

Chua claimed victory in the Hospitality and Events Internship category. She has a background in public relations and her dedication, creativity and strategic acumen were evident in her case study. This set her apart and served as a cornerstone of her success in the competition.

Chua has dreamed of working in Formula One since she was 15. She said, “The passion of everyone involved in the sport really drew me in and I made a promise to myself that I would put in the work to be part of it one day. When this Red Bull Intern Championship competition was announced, I knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime I had been waiting for, but winning it wouldn’t be easy. I think I was visibly shaking when I received the winner’s email.” 

Heng, on the other hand, clinched the Red Bull Relations Internship. She has honed her skills in photojournalism through her internship at The Straits Times, along with her management and content creation skills as a Marketing and Advocacy intern.

Heng Yi Hsin

Said Heng, “I stumbled upon F1 a few years ago and was hooked. Back then, working in F1 felt like a pipe dream. So when the Red Bull Intern championship was announced, I pulled out all the stops because I knew the competition would be tough.” 

The Red Bull Intern Championship was a rigorous contest with multiple challenging stages.

1. Candidates applied with their CVs and cover letters and the Red Bull Wingfinder assessment identified their strengths
2. Participants crafted short videos to assess their creativity and personality 
3. Those who advanced in the competition explored their aspiration and visions with a decisive case study challenge that determined the winners of each category 

Red Bull also put together a unique outreach event with NTU in March where a miniature remote controlled car zipped through the campus to encourage students to seize the opportunity to take part in the championship, showcasing Red Bull’s commitment to sourcing the best young talents in Singapore.

During their internship, Chua and Heng will work closely with seasoned professionals at the Red Bull Racing headquarters, delving into critical aspects of operations, from understanding the nuances of engineering, to mastering the intricacies of logistics that ensure seamless race day execution. The two young women will be at the forefront of the action, broadening their knowledge and fine-tuning their skills.

Their internship will culminate with participating in the Singapore Grand Prix, enhancing the race weekend with their newfound expertise and insights. 

all photos in this article are credited to oracle red bull racing.