A group of enthusiastic schoolchildren recently had the unique opportunity to be among the first players of a new motorsport-themed minigame within the beloved universe of Minecraft. These pupils from Middle Barton Primary School in Oxfordshire made a special visit to the headquarters of the Formula 1 team BWT Alpine, where they were treated to an exclusive preview of this innovative game.
Exploring the World of F1 in 8-Bit
This engaging minigame reimagines the F1 team’s base as a vibrant Minecraft landscape, allowing players to explore the facility while learning about the intricate processes involved in creating and racing a modern Formula 1 car—all rendered in charming 8-bit graphics. The initiative is part of Alpine’s commitment to the Race into STEM campaign, which seeks to inspire greater female participation in motorsport and provide educational resources for young minds.
Developed in collaboration with Microsoft, the owner of Minecraft and a sponsor of Alpine, the game offers players the chance to interact with pixelated avatars of real-life team members. This includes notable figures such as the head of build and test, the chief financial officer, and team principal Oliver Oakes. In a conversation with the BBC, Oakes expressed his hope that the experience would broaden the children’s understanding of the diverse career paths available in motorsport, beyond just the drivers.
“I guess when you’re young, everyone just thinks of Formula 1 as the drivers really, but there’s actually everything that goes into it—the engineering, the manufacturing, and the processes, all those subjects you study at school,” he remarked. “Hopefully from today they just got a feel for all the possibilities as a career path.”
Among the game’s characters is aerodynamics expert Paula Gutiérrez, who found it amusing to see her digital counterpart. “It’s great that we can put these events on and let the children know what opportunities are available to them,” she shared, highlighting the importance of such initiatives in fostering interest in STEM fields.
The minigame is now accessible for free on the Minecraft Education platform, inviting young players to dive into the world of motorsport while learning valuable skills. Meanwhile, BWT Alpine, based in Enstone, is currently positioned sixth in the F1 constructors championship, having recently celebrated its best result of the season in Brazil, where both drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, secured podium finishes.
