Getting a Job in F1

[ashf1mclaren]

Hi, I am a young Motorsport enthusiast who is currently doing A-Levels. I have been thinking more about writing to Formula One and other series teams, about what I would be looking to do in the future (aerodynamics/CFD Design)and what ways, I would like to achieve it and the opportunity that I and they could offer.

I am a little bit shy on the subject as I don't want to make a fool of myself. If anyone could provide a little bit of help on how to start a letter off also I understand that I need to included details of myself and other basic information, if there's anything else that should be included please post it.

Many thanks to all who reply to this post =D>

[copperkipper1]

Work hard, Get good grades in A level maths & physics, Get a degree in engineering from a good univercity (mechanical or aero) Then move onto a job within motorsport & work your way up. Or before getting a job or while in a job maybe get a masters degree within CFD or another area of engineering to try to specialise.

Working within F1 is a lifestyle choice. Very demanding most of the time

[ashf1mclaren]

thanks copper for some useful information, I guess when you work in f1 you live the job, that doesn't phase me as I love the sport and am the type to never give up.

[Jersey Tom]

Loving the sport and loving the job are two very, very different things.

I assume "a-levels" are some pre-university level of school. I will offer my standard line of advice for those aiming to lock themselves into pro motorsport for a career:

1. Don't. Don't even think of trying to lock yourself into any career path at this point because in all honesty, you are way too young to have firmly decided on anything. Just a fact of life! Outlook on life changes a lot from 18 to 22, and 22 to 26. I thought I was a pretty sharp guy and would never have anticipated a lot that happened in those years.
   
   Some people who are big into motorsport at a young age opt to do something else. Maybe something else is more stable or enjoyable. Maybe they meet someone special and want to settle down.
   
   Point is, think broad at this stage so you're not limiting yourself. Think broad, and something you'll enjoy.
2. If you particularly enjoy math, science, and problem solving - engineering may be a good career path. Thinking broadly, Mechanical Engineering is a great path. Can work in classic design engineering, motorsport, aerospace, you name it.
3. Going to a school with a Formula Student team would certainly be a plus. Doesn't need to be the biggest and greatest. Just something where you can get a taste of things, see how you enjoy it. If you love working 60+ hours a week for free on this stuff, on top of class and a personal life... just to see your creation fall apart or go up in flames at competition... and then come back for it again next year and year after that - you might be on the right track.
4. If/when you graduate with a B.Sc, there are a couple options. Chances of jumping straight in with a F1 team are likely extremely slim, unless at a very low level.
   
   Alternatively, could work for a lower level team, perhaps F3 or GP2, for little if any pay, and establish yourself as a professional there before stepping up.
   
   Or, could work for a supplier. Tire company, engine manufacturer, shocks, whatever.
   
   Yet still, could stay in academia for another few years and do a PhD in a specialized field, e.g. aerodynamics, structures, vehicle dynamics. This is likely where it helps the most to go to a 'heavy hitter' school with lots of tie-in, be it Ox Brookes or Cranfield or whatever.
5. Regardless of approach, networking is key. Get to know people, and prove yourself.
6. May take some luck as well.

[Belatti]

Just to give you my own case as an expample: I dont like the "specialization" thing. PhD, degrees in CFD, etc...

I dont know if I will be involved in F1, but Im cercainly growing up in what I do in my country, Im happy with that and Im aiming to be able to design racing cars -the whole concept. Of course it takes a team to do that: I want to be the head of that team.

Right now Im developing racing dampers (from Catia to CNC machining to assembly to the shock dyno and back), a post rig, Im working as data engineer some weekends, as race engineer some others and as external consultant for a team at night, after work. I work arround 12 hours a day, sleep less than 6 and had only 3 weekends off since february. Doing all that I can barely pay the rent and other expenses but I dont complain. Saving some money to be able to travel to Europe and get a job arround there is getting harder but still possible.

[Tomaus]

Hey all, a bit of a different angle from me.

I've been reading F1Technical on and off since around 2007, but have had zero useful comments to contribute until now. I hope to contribute more in the future as I increase my F1 technical awareness and am in closer proximity to motorsport. I recently moved to the UK to pursue a career in motorsport and am currently completing a MSc at Cranfield University in Motorsport Engineering and Management. I'm happy to supply a bit of information about the degree and Cranfield in general. There are a number of good things going for the course as I see it from the inside, a few of which are as follows.

• 1: the course is for postgraduates only, so you meet people who like minded and are motivated to be there and work hard.
  2: the degree includes coursework, a group project involving industry and an individual thesis with academic and potentially industry sponsorship. So, both individual and team oriented work are involved in the course, which I understand to be a good reflection of industry practice.
  3: the course programme is developed in conjunction with an industry committee. A number of these people lecture on the course modules, and there have been a number of informal talks by alumni in industry to the student cohort about their career paths.
  4: there are a hefty number of people who have completed the course who now work across a range of motorsport formulae, as well as in the automotive, aerospace and other high tech industries.
  5: there aren't a whole lot of specific postgraduate courses in the UK for Motorsport Engineering, so there is industry recognition of the qualification. In addition, the course is the only motorsport MSc programme accredited by the IMechE, RAeS and IET.
  6: the campus is located within a ten minute drive of Milton Keynes, (Redbull), close to Silverstone (Force India), and Marussia, Mercedes and Lotus are not too far away.
  7: Cranfield has strong links with the motorsport sector through its active involvement with research and testing. That coupled with the number of alumni working in industry is an important part of what the institution offers and why it exists. For example, the Cranfield Impact Centre is used by a number of F1 teams to undertake some of their impact testing. As well, Cranfield Motorsport Simulation is another facility utilised by industry.
  8: students are encouraged to find industry sponsors for their thesis topics, there have been and are currently a range of two and four wheeled teams sponsoring projects.
  9: the facilities that I have used so far as part of the course include: a moving belt wind tunnel, a four post rig, tyre testing rigs. There is a dyno and off-road vehicle dynamics facilities that I have not had a chance to use yet. I have had access to a number of competition cars including WRC, F1, Formula Ford and British GT.

This was posted a little earlier in the thread:

If you particularly enjoy math, science, and problem solving - engineering may be a good career path. Thinking broadly, Mechanical Engineering is a great path. Can work in classic design engineering, motorsport, aerospace, you name it.

I can definitely relate to that statement. I have an undergraduate degree in plain engineering with a few different majors. I didn't have a particular job direction I was focused on, just that I enjoyed mechanics, fluid dynamics, materials and manufacturing. I worked in various engineering and design roles for a few years after graduating, before deciding that motorsport is what would best motivates me to get up in the morning. First having a broad undergraduate engineering degree helped me to determine the types of work I was (or wasn't!) interested in. Now through a postgraduate degree I am focusing on learning the skills I need to break in to motorsport, now that I know that is what I want to do.

The course has a blog running that has staff and student contributors. My latest entry was:
http://motorsportuniversity.wordpress.c ... -triangle/

Degree website:
http://www.motorsport.cranfield.ac.uk

Industry advisory committee:
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/postgrad ... e6834.html

Cranfield Impact Centre:
http://www.cranfieldimpactcentre.com/

Cranfield Motorsport Simulation
http://www.cranfieldmotorsportsimulation.com/

Through the degree I hope to get a job somewhere in the motorsport industry. I will likely need (and aim to get more of) hands on experience to achieve this.

This said, I only know about Cranfield as I am here currently, and have no useful information about other motorsport degrees in the UK. Can anyone shed some light on other uni's motorsport degree programs, undergraduate or postgraduate?

[tathan]

Glyndwr University do a motorsport engineering program. Wouldn't recommend it from personal experience.

[krisfx]

Start making connections and networking with people inside teams, that's normally the door in, and yes it can be done..

[tathan]

Well of course it can be done, why would anyone think it wouldn't?

[beelsebob]

Glyndwr University do a motorsport engineering program. Wouldn't recommend it from personal experience.

No, in general, these very specific courses (much like Abertay's computer games engineering course) are a bad plan – they give you very limited understanding of the wider field, and that impacts your knowledge and thought processes dealing with the specific field you do want to go for. I'd highly recommend a more general course than that.

[gerishnikov]

Most important bit of info for working in F1/motorsport in general is
Its not what you know but who you know.

[ChipAyten]

Long gone are the days when a mechanic can show up at Lotus' factory near Norwich get a job and work/network his was to the F1 team.

[gerishnikov]

Long gone are the days when a mechanic can show up at Lotus' factory near Norwich get a job and work/network his was to the F1 team.

You might be right for a few departments but for the majority of departments, The phrase "its not what you know but who you know" still rings true. Trust me

[MadMatt]

I am also doing an MSc in motorsport at the moment, and have the feeling that finding a job in motorsport is extremely difficult at the moment. I know few students that graduated in 2012 and are still looking for a job. My interest is not really in F1 or circuit racing, which makes it even more difficult I think.

[Jersey Tom]

Most important bit of info for working in F1/motorsport in general is
Its not what you know but who you know.

Ehh.. I don't agree with this. Networking and "knowing people" isn't good enough, nor is talent by itself if it isn't being discovered. The right people need to know who YOU are, and generally that happens by having proven yourself somewhere.

I am also doing an MSc in motorsport at the moment, and have the feeling that finding a job in motorsport is extremely difficult at the moment. I know few students that graduated in 2012 and are still looking for a job. My interest is not really in F1 or circuit racing, which makes it even more difficult I think.

There are plenty of opportunities out there. Some of them pay, some don't. There are some pretty big name organizations who have a tough time finding good engineers, so the need is there.