University of Suffolk in Ipswich alumni and F1 fan Lindsay Palmer riding high after design features on Las Vegas Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen’s car

A graphic designer and avid Formula One fan is celebrating a double victory after her contest-winning design featured on a race car – which then proceeded to take first place during a major event.

Lindsay Palmer, from Colchester, won a competition earlier this year to design a livery for cars on the Red Bull team, which made an appearance during the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 18.

Taking inspiration from the glitz and glamour of Sin City, Lindsay, who did her degree at the University of Suffolk in Ipswich, where she graduated in 2012, dazzled voters and took the trophy.

Her design was influenced by the bright lights of Las Vegas and incorporated the names of Red Bull team’s two drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, into poker chips and playing cards.

Lindsay said she found out about the competition through the team’s Instagram page.

Entries were also posted onto the platform, where fans picked their top 10 designs – with 24,000 votes cast in total.

As a result, Lindsay secured a VIP trip to Las Vegas, which included access to the paddock, a garage tour, and seeing her design brought to life by Red Bull’s designers.

Before this, however, she also visited the Red Bull’s factory, and met with the team there.

She described this as an ‘amazing experience’, adding that everybody was friendly.

Lindsay said: “As an F1 fan, I saw the promo competition and I spent a few evenings coming up with the concept to fit the brief of ‘to look good under the lights of Las Vegas’.

“When you think of Vegas, you think of the bright lights and casino culture, and I integrated the drivers’ initials and racing numbers into playing cards and poker chips to create a design called ‘Two of a Kind’ – a play on a poker hand.

“I was really nervous watching them race, saying to myself ‘you’d better win’ with my design on their cars – and seeing them up on the podium, with my design on the winning car, was the best feeling.

“It still all seems rather surreal. It has certainly given me a boost in confidence and motivation.”

Lindsay’s design was present on both Red Bull cars.

Verstappen scooped a win, while Perez came in third place.

Lindsay currently works for The Write Impression, based outside Colchester.

She said doing her degree in Ipswich allowed her to work out the path she wanted to take with her career.

Lindsay added: “I was able to have a variety of design work for my portfolio once I’d graduated.

“My advice for students would be to get stuck into all the different projects as it will help to see where strengths and interests lie.”