How to become a Formula 1 engineer
The UK is a hub for F1. Most of the teams are based here with specialist universities to support the future development of the sport. But, before that, what do race engineers actually do?
A Formula 1 Engineer – The lowdown
If you’re a fan then you’ll probably already know the overall role objective – to achieve the best possible performance from the car and driver.
A Formula 1 engineer will be expected to analyse data and make informed decisions about the setup required to generate optimum car and driver performance. Not only that, but it’s essential to conduct pre-briefings and post-race debriefs with the driver in order to obtain vital performance information that can then be relayed to design and vehicle dynamics professionals.
How much do F1 engineers get paid?
The typical F1 engineer’s salary varies depending on experience, qualifications, position and the team they are employed by.
The average salary different engineers can expect is as follows:
Graduate Engineers: £27,000 - £32,000 a year
Junior Engineers: £45,000 - £65,000 a year
Senior Engineers: £75,000 - £125,000 a year
Chief Engineers: £175,000+ a year
All of these roles will come with their individual perks and benefits such as:
Travel and accommodation costs for every race
Ticket price discounts
Team performance bonuses
Skills and Attributes
Interested in the above? Feel like an aspiring race car engineer? Well, let’s find out what you need to do to get there.
Firstly, you’ll need a degree or equivalent in mechanical or automotive engineering. Most UK universities offer mechanical engineering courses and this should enable you to study vehicle dynamics or mathematical modelling such as MATLAB (Matrix Laboratory) or SimPack – essential knowledge within the role.
It’s also a good idea to enhance employment opportunities after graduation. You can do this by trying to secure a motorsport-related work placement as part of your degree, whilst others opt to volunteer for race teams for free in their spare time. Marshalling can also be a good option, as it gives paddock access, making it possible to experience F1 life close-up.
Obviously, it isn’t always possible to walk into a race engineer role straight after graduation. Most race engineers will have worked their way up to the position, and usually after having worked as a vehicle dynamicist and a data engineer, whether in F1, rallying, NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) or similar. Alternatively, you could work in junior race teams as a data analyst and develop ‘on the ground’, the skills required to graduate to a race engineer.
Top soft skills:
Resilience
Quick thinking
Passion for racing
Excellent communication skills
The ability to work well in a team
Excellent problem-solving skills
What does a day at work look like for a Formula 1 engineer?
The glitz and glamour of Formula 1 can appeal to anyone, but what will your day to day look like if you pursue this career path? Race engineers can spend long periods of time away from home and must be willing to work odd hours. This is not your normal 9-5, the different time zones and various shift patterns can leave you with what feels like a very disjointed shift pattern.
Once you have got to grips with that, there’s the diverse set of tasks each part of a race weekend can require. Lots of meetings to discuss the day’s plans and race objectives. Hours spent analysing the data to make informed decisions to maximise the car’s potential during qualifying and the actual race. Then comes the race itself and the pressure and attention to detail to ensure the car and driver reach their maximum potential and get the result your team is searching for.
After all of that, it’s time to debrief, run through the weekend’s analysis and start thinking about the next race and repeat 21 times throughout the year.
What career prospects are there?
Beyond the senior race engineer, possibilities for career development include senior management roles such as department head or chief aerodynamicist.
The pinnacle of F1 engineering, however, is the role of technical director, who has overall responsibility for track performance, aerodynamics and car design. At this level, salaries are upwards of £450,000 per year.
If you have a passion for racing, the academic qualifications and the attributes required of a race engineer, then a Formula 1 engineer role is surely the ultimate job for you.
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