Automotive engineer Liow En De has landed a dream job – as a member of the trackside team with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One (F1) team. Liow was appointed as Trackside Fluid Engineer (TFE) after he won the second edition Petronas Trackside Fluid Engineer global search. He will travel with Mercedes-AMG Petronas around the world for all 22 cars of this year’s F1 season.
As a TFE, Liow will conduct the on-site performance analysis of the fluids within the engine. He will also provide the team with real-time input about the health of their No. 44 and No. 77 Formula 1 cars – specifically the EQ Performance’s mechanical parts of the W11, the new 2020 car of Mercedes-AMG Petronas. The No. 44 and No. 77 Formula 1 cars are driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, respectively.
Liow’s win was recently announced by Petronas Lubricant International (PLI), a Petronas subsidiary. The global search took place from July to September in 2019.
Applicants for the TFE search went through competitive rounds that tested their inter-personal, technical, communication skills and teamwork. After the rigorous selection process, Liow impressed the judges during the final selection rounds, which ended with an interview with PLI group managing director and CEO, Giuseppe D’Arrigo.
Liow, a former intern at Porsche and Lotus, is looking to give a good account of himself. “It is not often that you are presented with opportunities such as this, and I am very grateful to be given this chance. Working in Formula 1 has been a life-long dream and I look forward to learning and growing with the team and giving my best throughout this new and incredible experience.” Liow will be working alongside last year’s Petronas TFE search winner, Stephanie Travers.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, lauded the young Malaysian. “As we move into our second decade of partnership with Petronas, I am delighted to welcome En De Liow to the team as our new Petronas Trackside Fluid Engineer.”
He said the Petronas talent development program had brought real benefit to the team’s trackside provision. Their TFE engineers have also gained invaluable experience through exposure to the fast-paced, driven world of F1. “We are extremely grateful for the role that they have played and will continue to play in our success. We look forward to the start of the 2020 season together,” he said. With the help from Petronas, Mercedes-AMG became the first time in F1 to win six consecutive double titles last season.
Petronas has been supporting Mercedes-AMG with engineers since the start of its F1 partnership in 2010. The engineers serve in fluid-related service activities at F1 tests and race events, and provide real-time analysis on Petronas Fluid Technology Solutions, a customized suite of products and services. The solutions include Petronas products such as Primax fuel, Syntium lubricant and Tutela Functional Fluids for the Mercedes works team and Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) customer teams.
The 2020 F1 season marks the 11th season of the highly successful partnership between Petronas and Mercedes-AMG.
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