How does it work - Design Department

[astracrazy]

Maybe a weird question

But how does the design department of a f1 team work in terms of how does each person know what they are doing. Lets say theres 50 employees. does x amount work on the front wing for example? do they do what they think will improve the car or are they told what to design? What about if an update 1 person makes stops an update someone else has made working properly?

it may be a stupid question, but i've never worked in a design department so i don't know

[Kiril Varbanov]

Hm, managing F1 team is a tough job, especially today, where departments are large and a good coordination is vital among team members and key stakeholders, when it comes to decisions.
I have an old article describing the typical process at an "average" F1 factory - perhaps it will give you some clue about the stuff going on inside.

Generally, it's a different process in different teams, but it's a development effort according a plan for the whole year. The keyword is communication and good management.

[turbof1]

I would assume they run taskforces. With each group having a specific area of the car to design, the whole puzzle absolutely has to fit. So I suppose if group A designs some updates for the wing, they'll have to discuss the effects on the whole car with the other groups. Those taskforces will also likely target problems or needs or points of development. They'll work out what roughly has to change and then report back to their groups and put up objectives. Example group x works on the diffuser and needs the airflow slightly changed above the diffuser because they believe it's an improvement. They then need put their heads together with the representative of group D (sidepod design) and Group A (front wing). Those representatives then go back to their respective groups and outline what needs to be done. The groups then go look for solutions.

Undoubtly, a group that works on a front wing is a team and will have to work together nonstop. You can't have individuals cancel out eachother's ideas or having 2 persons accidently work the same solution out. That's highly unproductive.

[astracrazy]

thanks turbo f1, that makes a lot of sense

[amouzouris]

There is a pretty good documentary from national geographic IIRC about williams and how they go on designing and making new parts

[astracrazy]

any links?

[RicerDude]

There is a pretty good documentary from national geographic IIRC about williams and how they go on designing and making new parts

Megafactories Williams

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEs-TWTQsIc[/youtube]

[stefan_]

Hope I am not off topic, but here are some pics showing how the cars were designed/built back in the days. Hope you find them as interesting as I did.

1982: Equipe Renault Elf design office in the Viry-Châtillon factory


1976: RS01 protoype, with Jean-Pierre Jabouille's helmet and shape as a reference for the car's design.


1976: Engine set-up testing, on a plywood RS01 protoype.


1979: Renault Gordini EF1, 1.5 V6 (t/c - twin turbocharged | KKK Turbos) tested on the dyno

© Renault Sport F1

[turbof1]

The design studio picture is as it should be: room enough to work, yet open enough so you can constantly get and give feedback to your collegues. Perosnally, I would go for a half-circle work-environment, with the employees facing outwards (else you constantly have that pesky desktop screen in your face when trying to talk), or facing inwards with the screen being easily moveable out of the way.