A young man who was too exhausted to get out of bed for three years has landed the ultimate fast-paced Formula One job with Oracle Red Bull Racing in MK.

George Richardson was 12 when he was diagnosed with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) so severe that he was unable to even stand up.

Yet today, at the age of 23, he is a fully-fledged Aerodynamic Design Engineer at Oracle Red Bull Racing in Milton Keynes – and loving every minute of it.

The job follows years of dogged determination from George to catch up on his list education and study for a degree as a Red Bull apprentice at the University of Hertfordshire.

George Richardson pictured at the age of 12. He stayed in bed for the next three years.

placeholder image — George Richardson pictured at the age of 12. He stayed in bed for the next three years.

His life today is a far cry from his early teens, when school was out of the question and he spent all his time sleeping in bed or on the sofa.

“I woke up one morning and I simply couldn’t get out of bed,” he said. “Many thought it was psychosomatic, but my family supported me throughout."

With physiotherapy and determination, George slowly rebuilt his strength. But the impact on his education was significant.

“The school would send me work to do but I was too brain fogged to do much. I missed practically three years of schooling, and my mum was told I wouldn’t amount to anything,” he said.

George Richardson today, at his dream job with Oracle Red Bull Racing

George was passionate about Formula One, which he watched with his grandfather, and applied to Silverstone UTC, the motorsport-focused technical college.

Despite concerns about his energy levels, the college recognised his passion and supported a phased start.

He went from strength to strength, eventually winning the Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Student of the Year Award in 2019 and getting to the final stage of interviews for a Mercedes apprenticeship.

But then COVID19 hit and the apprenticeship George had worked so hard for collapsed. He ended up working in retail for a year while he applied for other apprenticeships – and was rejected over 20 times.

Still, he didn’t give up, eventually beating 500 other candidates to secure a Degree Apprentice with aerospace company Leonardo through the uni.

George achieved marks of 82% in his final years, graduating with a first-class honours degree.

While still at college, he interviewed for Oracle Red Bull Racing, who instantly offered him a job – and even agreed to transfer his apprenticeship to finish it with them.

“I’d applied thinking I’d have no chance – so when they said they wanted me I was absolutely over the moon,” he said.

Now, as an Aerodynamic Design Engineer, George turns aerodynamic concepts into components for wind tunnel testing.

“My role is about problem-solving - turning CFD (computational fluid dynamics) surfaces into real parts within days..The pace in Formula One is relentless, and that’s what I love.”

George’s advice for anyone on a similar path is simple: “Stay positive, ask for help when you need it, and don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. Work hard, persevere, and believe in yourself.”

Celeste Jones from the University of Hertfordshire, said: “George’s journey is a powerful reminder of what apprenticeships make possible. They offer not just a route into employment, but a new source of purpose, confidence and opportunity. We are incredibly proud to have supported him...”

Find out about Herts apprenticeships here.