A University of New Mexico alumnus began a new role in August as an aerodynamics design engineer with the McLaren Formula 1 team in Woking, England.
Tiger Lee, who graduated from UNM in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, has long aspired to work in motorsports. In his position with McLaren Racing, he will focus on wind tunnel models and CAD surface modeling of the team’s F1 race cars. With 186 grand prix wins, the environment at the McLaren factory is fast-paced, and new design iterations are tested frequently.
“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to a bigger team with a common goal and a passion for continuously improving,” Lee said. “Getting to design and build F1 race cars is also pretty cool.”
Selection for the position at McLaren followed a comprehensive hiring process. After an extensive online application with hundreds of applicants followed by virtual assessments, a dozen candidates, including Lee, were brought into the McLaren Technology Center. There he participated in two human resources interviews, two technical interviews, and a 20-minute poster design followed by a technical presentation. He was one of two candidates hired and moved to London just two weeks later.
“My goal when moving to England was to get a job in F1. I would have been happy to get into any of the teams with the competition for the limited openings available but McLaren was always the one I dreamed about working for," Lee remarked. "I remember watching Lewis Hamilton winning the world championship back in 2008. Working with such a dedicated and passionate team is an opportunity not many get to enjoy."
Lee will complete his master’s degree in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University this fall. His graduate studies have focused entirely on motorsports-related topics; he built his foundational skills in UNM’s Formula SAE (FSAE) program, LoboMotorsports.
John Russell, Mechanical Engineering professor and UNM’s FSAE Program director expressed pride upon hearing about Lee's achievement.
“I was excited and very proud when Tiger told me he had been selected for a position on the McLaren F1 team - the pinnacle of racing," Russell said. "This is not only a fantastic personal accomplishment but also one that reflects the quality of the UNM Formula SAE program."
LoboMotorsports significantly influenced Lee’s decision to attend UNM. As both an engineering student and university golf team athlete, it was crucial for him to find an institution where he could pursue sports while focusing on race car design.
As a sophomore, Lee shadowed LoboMotorsports members before becoming aerodynamics and composites lead during his junior year. The pandemic halted progress temporarily but allowed him time to stay involved until project completion alongside new students.
In his senior year, Lee advised LoboMotorsports members on aerodynamics and composites while providing design input. The team competed with two cars at the 2021 FSAE competition in Las Vegas—an internal combustion engine vehicle and UNM’s first electric vehicle—performing well overall despite not winning.
“Tiger was an amazing team member primarily responsible for our aerodynamic design," Russell noted. "Due to Tiger's work our aero design is still recognized at competition as one of the best."
After moving to England for graduate school, Lee participated in Formula Student—a European version of FSAE—which provided valuable experience towards becoming an engineer for an F1 team.
As Lee embarks on his dream career in motorsports engineering, faculty and staff at UNM continue cheering him on.