PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers with Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Toto Wolff
PETRONAS Lubricant International (PLI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS, have announced En De Liow from Malaysia as the winner of their 2020 global search for a PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer (PTFE).
As a member of PETRONAS’ trackside team, Liow, 26, will provide six-time FIA Formula 1 World Constructors’ Champions, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, with fluid-related support services throughout the twenty-two races this championship season.
The second edition of the PTFE search required applicants to go through competitive rounds that tested their technical, inter-personal, communication skills and teamwork. Having successfully completed a rigorous selection process, the Automotive Engineer impressed the judges during the final selection rounds, which concluded with an interview with PLI Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe D’Arrigo.
“Congratulations to En De for becoming our latest PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineer. As an organization, we are passionate about investing in young talent for the innovative ideas they bring to the organization and to the development of high-end fluid technology for our partners and consumers. To be in the thick of Formula 1 action is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will enrich him professionally and personally, and we wish En De as well as the team all the best this championship season,” said D’Arrigo.
PTFE conduct on-site performance analysis of the fluids within the power units, providing the team with real-time input about the health of the Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance’s mechanical parts. They operate a compact lab for fluid-related service activities at races around the world alongside the best engineers and scientists in the field.
“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,” said En De, who will be working alongside last year’s PTFE search winner, Stephanie Travers.
As Title partner, PETRONAS co-engineered PETRONAS Fluid Technology Solutions™ which includes PETRONAS Primax fuel, PETRONAS Syntium engine oil and PETRONAS Tutela functional fluids, in close collaboration with the technical team at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP).
“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. The PETRONAS talent development programme has brought real benefit to our trackside provision, while our PTFE engineers have gained invaluable experience through their 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. Our relationship with PETRONAS is at the core of our team’s competitiveness: En De joining last year’s winner Stephanie in our on-track lab will give us even more opportunity to gain real-time performance advantages. We look forward to the start of the 2020 season together,” said Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.
