Steps to Get Into F1 Team

[thegreasemonkeyash]

Hey there,

I am Graduating this year, which puts me in a place to search for UG collages. I want to work in Aerodynamics or CAD Departments at a Formula one team (RBR specifically). First up, which collages should i have in mind? I want to peruse Mechanical Engineering. Second, how do i manage to get internship in the F1 team, Are they for the whole year or just for a months time? Do i really need Prior Experience in racing fields to work in f1?

Really fancy a job in f1 since when i was 14, learned CAD, CFD like in 9th grade! Would really appreciate if you could guide me!

[Jersey Tom]

There have been many topics on this already, worth searching.

Why do you think you want to do F1 though? And why RBR specifically?

One way or the other you're going to have to work for it, and you're going to have to be a realist. In reverse order... I'd say let's be a realist first. For one, when it comes time to graduate your life situation / outlook / interests may be COMPLETELY different than they are now. From 17/18 to 22/23 and then 24/25 are some big steps. I had friends in school who had the option to take the pro racing route.. and ultimately decided it was best left as a hobby and had other more pressing interests in life.

I'd say step one, focus on going to school to be a good engineer - if it is indeed engineering you want to do. From there you can do anything if you're talented enough. Find a place that has a Formula Student or FSAE team. Doesn't matter if they're particularly good or not, just something to see if you're actually into the lifestyle of high stress and low (or no) pay or sleep. Maybe you are, maybe you aren't.

If you are, then work for it and prove yourself over everyone else. Maybe it's working on a F3 team. Maybe it's doing an advanced degree and working with a F1 team that way. Maybe it's working for a supplier as a first step (which was my path to a race team).

Just be smart about it is the #1 bit of life advice. Everyone's path and story is unique. When I grew up I had a mediocre interest in racing at best. Went to a university with zero formal automotive or motorsport engineering program. Debated between mechanical and aerospace engineering but took the mechanical route, though I still figured I'd end up working in aerospace and had a very strong background in design and manufacturing engineering while I was in undergrad. Did the Formula SAE thing, which was cool, I liked it. Didn't get any specialized degree, just BS MechEng. And currently I'm a vehicle dynamics and data analyst engineer working at a top-level, iconic name in American racing. Go figure!

What you get out of life / work / relationships is proportional to what you put in.

[Richard]

JT - How did you end up in NASCAR?

A friend who works for a supplier embedded in F1 teams got there via chemical engineering, he was a lab boffin who's company supplies F1 teams and his career migrated in that direction. His point is that many get into it via the supply chain compared to the thousands who apply directly to the teams.

[Jersey Tom]

JT - How did you end up in NASCAR?

While I was still at university I very much thought I'd try to break into F1 right after undergrad, naively (a) thinking that's where all the challenging, pro engineering in motorsport was, (b) believing I had a decent understanding of things after FSAE, and (c) not quite appreciating the challenges involved with work visas in other countries.

Local to school the only pro racing team at the time was RuSport, and I distantly knew a couple of the engineers there, but I don't think they had any positions at the time and dissolved shortly thereafter anyway. There's also one Cup team in that area, but that wasn't on my radar.

Wasn't going to be able to support myself doing SCCA stuff, and a majority of job openings locally were in aerospace systems engineering which wasn't my background. So instead I moved and took a job with a tire company hoping to get into their vehicle dynamics or race groups. If I didn't get either of those I would have quit and moved back to figure something out. Fortunately some luck fell my way and I did the vehicle dynamics / race tire thing there for 3-4 years, as a NASCAR supplier (and involved in some other things).

As 2011 rolled in I realized I wasn't happy with where I was at in life, on a few levels, and decided it was time for a change. As fortune would have it, right around that time there were a couple NASCAR organizations in need of a specialist in tire data, etc. Applied, interviewed, got an offer, put in my 2 weeks, hopped in the car and drove down to NC the week leading up to the 2011 season opener. And here I am, quite fortunate to have had some luck and opportunities fall my way.

Funny enough, there are a number of F1 engineers who have opted to come to NASCAR in recent years.

/lifeStory

[Ledon Racing]

You do realise that if you work in F1 your actual job will be working on one tiny part of a car, developing it to the nth degree and then there being a very good chance of it never actually being used. Plus the chances of getting to work trackside are virtually nil.

Sorry for sounding cynical but I have friends that have studied motorsport, gone down the F1 route and then left again fustrated.

IMHO I'd rather work for a constructer producing designing high level racecars, as you stand a much better chance of having a much more rounded career.

I work on LMP cars btw and there's no way I would consider a move to F1.

[Belatti]

JT´s first reply is all I would have said. =D>

[Jersey Tom]

To circle back here briefly, the reason I ask why the interest in RBR is because you have to ask yourself - do you want to be a F1 professional or a F1 fan with a paycheck? Not to say they're mutually exclusive but there's a difference in how you can carry yourself and I think there's a level of objectivity you need in order to be a professional in any field.

Some examples...

Suppose you grow up as the #1 Ferrari fan, and then when it comes time to get a job the place that gives you an offer is McLaren. Well that's a bit awkward now isn't it. Probably want to get rid of the prancing horse bed sheets straight away and avoid that conflict of interest. Or look at Ross Brawn. Synonymous with winning at Ferrari for many years. Don't hear him carrying on about how much he loves them much these days, eh?

Look at all the professional athletes, be it NFL or EPL or MLB or whatever... they're all for winning games for their current club, but the truth is it's a dynamic business. If you go from the Cowboys to the Giants, Man Utd to Arsenal, Red Sox to Yankees... all allegiance to the previous club is immediately dropped, because you're a professional. No different in racing, your "favorite driver" may be on your team one year and gone the next!

Helped my perspective in NASCAR going into it being pretty neutral and not really a fanatic. I didn't know who Carl Edwards is or the difference in track layout between Kansas and Atlanta. Just focused on the work and got acclimated. Same would apply if I magically woke up Monday morning on a F1 team (not that I'd want to at this stage, similar to LedonRacing's comment). Doesn't matter if the janitor walks past my desk or Fernando Alonso. Just another employee either way really, not going to go bananas about it.

Love the sport sure, but be objective about it. That's my 2 cents.

[RB7ate9]

Caterham, Marussia, HRT are all hiring. Maybe get in with them to get a larger view of F1, and maybe even have a better chance of showing some initiative and rising a bit faster. I think RBR or Mcl would be tough to try and get promoted to race weekends.

[marcush.]

Formula 1 is a highly specialized invironment todays even a smaller team like FI is not a small operation.
So in terms of occupation the area you are going to be involved in will not really need your Formula 1 understanding or expertise .It´s just another job really ..as a machinist ,stress calcuöations engineer, laminator ,shop foreman what have you.
So to get in you need to have excellent expertise in ONE area of interest for a formula 1 team -say high volage electrics7electronics -you are the man for KERS ,Prepreg laminator ,CAD specialist either in NX or Catia ,Simulation specialist say with CD-Adapco or a Quality guy -black belt six Sigma anyone?
The needs of a modern team are diversified in a lot of areas but I´m pretty sure they are not prepared to allow for a long learning curve-education on the job -they usually expect a real specialist that contribute new insights from the word go.
So in terms of laminating for example -Prodrive offering education courses just for people who have NO knowledge on the matter ....they teach you all the ins and outs they want to and I´d think that would be a good base to start from and develop your expertise from there.
Or :work in automotive industry as design engineer in Powertrain ,electrics etc and sure a formula 1 team has a position for you if you can demonstrate the skills AND the passion.

starting out with Marrusssia or HRT...I´m not sure if this is a good idea .They need expertise ..obviously they lack not only with funding it´s a lot more than that.So the question here is :will you be able to accumulate knowledge thereof interest to a bigger team? The second question will alwqays be :what will happen next year..will they be able to raise the funds to go on ? I´d rather concentrate on making a career with Mclaren ,Ferrari or RedBull and to a lesser extend Lotus ,Mercedes ,Sauber ,TR ...and not really bother with Caterham HRT or Marussia .

[joeyg02]

Caterham, Marussia, HRT are all hiring. Maybe get in with them to get a larger view of F1, and maybe even have a better chance of showing some initiative and rising a bit faster. I think RBR or Mcl would be tough to try and get promoted to race weekends.

Just pray they will last long enough to hold a steady job. Which, regardless if they don't that will definitely get your foot in the door and give you experience. School and degrees are great but Experience is a KEY factor teams look for.

[RB7ate9]

Caterham, Marussia, HRT are all hiring. Maybe get in with them to get a larger view of F1, and maybe even have a better chance of showing some initiative and rising a bit faster. I think RBR or Mcl would be tough to try and get promoted to race weekends.

Just pray they will last long enough to hold a steady job. Which, regardless if they don't that will definitely get your foot in the door and give you experience. School and degrees are great but Experience is a KEY factor teams look for.

Agree with all. I submitted my CV on a lark, but there's no way I can be hired without some major experience. It might even be harder to get in with these backmarker teams since they can't afford to hire inexperienced talent.

Otherwise, GP2 might be an interesting look. Not so much in terms of Car Production, but there will be opportunities for Data Analysis and Race Weekend Positions in a very high-level motorsport, experience highly prized.

LMP seems like a very exciting prospect. Audi? Let the forum know how it goes ?

[zyphro]

Caterham, Marussia, HRT are all hiring. Maybe get in with them to get a larger view of F1, and maybe even have a better chance of showing some initiative and rising a bit faster. I think RBR or Mcl would be tough to try and get promoted to race weekends.

Just pray they will last long enough to hold a steady job. Which, regardless if they don't that will definitely get your foot in the door and give you experience. School and degrees are great but Experience is a KEY factor teams look for.

What he said.

[Callum]

Hey OP,

On internships - I currently have a friend who has had a 6 month internship at a current F1 team. As far as I know this is probably the shortest amount of time they will take you. During the various interviews he went to for various teams the thing he told me was that "If you don't make the car faster, they won't take you"

With the RRA at the moment you must be worth the job slot which you are taking up.

One thing that i'm not sure if anyone has brought up yet.. You need to be good. (I'm not saying you're not). The first thing to do is to do well at uni and get *useful* work experience.

[Cam]

And currently I'm a vehicle dynamics and data analyst engineer working at a top-level, iconic name in American racing. Go figure!

Out of curiosity, would that be: Joe Gibbs Racing, located in the Huntersville Business Park off I-77 exit 23. The shop currently operates three Sprint Cup Series teams, the #11 FedEx Toyota Camry, the #18 M&M's Toyota Camry, and the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry.

[Jersey Tom]

Huntersville is where I live.