Cheadle teenager gets F1 McLaren engineering scholarship

Livia Pasta is one of the 16-year-olds to have been awarded with the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship

A teenager is set to work alongside Formula 1 racing team McLaren after winning an engineering scholarship.

Livia Pasta, from Cheadle, Staffordshire, was awarded the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship at McLaren's headquarters on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old will be given a mentor from McLaren during her two-year study.

"I'm amazed that this is such a big opportunity that could genuinely help me," said Livia.

She said she always thought she would be an aerodynamics engineer first and Formula 1 would come later.

"At first, Formula 1 was like a really distant dream... but now that I'm sponsored by McLaren, it's just a bit more real and I've got to put a tonne of work into it," Livia said.

Livia was one of seven students awarded the scholarship at McLaren's headquarters in Surrey

In 2001, the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship was transferred to The Smallpeice Trust, an educational charity that helps young people pursue a career in engineering.

As well as a McLaren mentor, the British motor racing team said they will give financial support to the students and their schools as well as a week of work experience in the summer.

Livia said her father is an engineer and also loves formula 1

Livia said it was her father, also an engineer, who inspired her to get into the profession.

"He was so proud of me, it was incredible [when he found out], it was such a great moment," the teenager said.

Livia was one of seven teenagers who were awarded the scholarship at McLaren's headquarters in Surrey.