Discussion
My son is in his 5th year in F1. 2 years with RBR, 2 with Honda and now, of course, with BGP.
He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering and several years involvement in motorsport, karting, Formula Honda, Formula Renault as a driver.
I would say that these days a good engineering degree is a minimum requirement and the ability to demonstrate a real commitment to the sport may then give you an edge.
Unfortunately, you need to bear in mind that the numbers of jobs in F1 are likely to be falling in the next couple of years and there may not be many vacanies in any case.
He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering and several years involvement in motorsport, karting, Formula Honda, Formula Renault as a driver.
I would say that these days a good engineering degree is a minimum requirement and the ability to demonstrate a real commitment to the sport may then give you an edge.
Unfortunately, you need to bear in mind that the numbers of jobs in F1 are likely to be falling in the next couple of years and there may not be many vacanies in any case.
Edited by DSM2 on Saturday 9th May 14:18
Portrait said:
How do you go about getting a job doing anything in F1? Or any other form of motorsport?
Any idea of qualifications needed for different types of jobs?
Depends what you want to do. Degree for most things. Being a bolty is unlikely in the near future as most teams have taken their test teams down to a skeleton staff so there are plenty looking for the work.Any idea of qualifications needed for different types of jobs?
DSM2 said:
Unfortunately, you need to bear in mind that the numbers of jobs in F1 are likely to be falling in the next couple of years and there may not be many vacanies in any case.
Exactly, even before it was nigh on impossible to get a job in F1 (or any high level motorsport) without a combination of top qualifications, some luck and contacts in the right places, simply because loads of people want to do it, so they can take the cream of the crop. Within a couple of years its quite feasible te larger teams will be running operations with less than half the staff they currently have, so there's going to be a LOT of people out there with previous F1 experience but no job to show for it, which is going to make it all the more difficult for someone to come in fresh.By all means aim high and consider it as an ultimate ambition if you're happy to forge a career in other areas of engineering when it doesn't work out, but having been in the situation myself and realised how difficult actually getting a job in top line motorsport is, I wouldn't compromise my education for it if other areas of engineering aren't really of great interest as a career.
Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 9th May 15:52
mchammer89 said:
Apologies for the thread hijack, but at the minute i'm studying for a masters in Motorsport Engineering at Brunel, anybody got any tips on how to get a decent job in motorsport? Or is it just the old "it's not what you know, it's who you know".
I would add..."it's not what you know, or who you know, but being there at the right time!"AtomicRex said:
mchammer89 said:
Apologies for the thread hijack, but at the minute i'm studying for a masters in Motorsport Engineering at Brunel, anybody got any tips on how to get a decent job in motorsport? Or is it just the old "it's not what you know, it's who you know".
I would add..."it's not what you know, or who you know, but being there at the right time!"As others have said a degree is simply a must have. Engineering is good, Aerospace would be better.
You must also be very passionate about motorsport and have a history of participating, either as a mechanic or driver.
But, F1 are starting to make people redundant, and soon there will be a lot of experienced F1 people on the jobs market and with the current testing restrictions, knowledge and experience is everything so the jobs will be even harder to find.
You must also be very passionate about motorsport and have a history of participating, either as a mechanic or driver.
But, F1 are starting to make people redundant, and soon there will be a lot of experienced F1 people on the jobs market and with the current testing restrictions, knowledge and experience is everything so the jobs will be even harder to find.
Martin Keene said:
But, F1 are starting to make people redundant, and soon there will be a lot of experienced F1 people on the jobs market and with the current testing restrictions, knowledge and experience is everything so the jobs will be even harder to find.
This situation already exists.Unless you want to work for free for the next 5 years don't even bother. Though if 3 new teams enter F1 next year and none of the current teams drop out the current excess of people with F1 and WRC experience will get soaked up and there'd be more chance to get in at the bottom. Best thing to do is get a job in the defence industry and get a few years experience whilst taking part in club motorsport. In 5 years time the economy will be back on the way up and motorsport will have money being chucked at it again. You would be surprised how many people working in the industry are either working for free/very little/have another line of work to keep them ticking over.
It's something I've always wondered about, I'm looking to go down the tactical route in motorsport, I plan to do mathematical engineering at uni, I know how hard it would be to break into F1, but I really want to be involved in motorsport, I just wouldn't be quick enough driving and I'm not quite good enough with building stuff.
Mat Hammond said:
Go get your Engineering degree and at weekends offer your services for free to a Race Team somewhere.
Lanzante etc.. Or someone in single seaters or Touring Cars.
I got a Factory visit at McLaren by just asking Ron if I could. Get talking...
I do not think letter/emails work so well.
All well and good if you have the money and time for it - doing an engineering degree is hard enough, nevermind trying to fit that in on the side, with a student budget! I will be graduating with a masters engineering degree next month, a few years ago F1 was the goal, but Ive been applying to all sorts of jobs for months, not getting anywhere Lanzante etc.. Or someone in single seaters or Touring Cars.
I got a Factory visit at McLaren by just asking Ron if I could. Get talking...
I do not think letter/emails work so well.
it's really depressing at the moment, currently looking for anything to keep me out of trouble until things pick up.PS. Tried Lola... very quiet from them at the moment.
Edited by RenesisEvo on Sunday 10th May 22:40
The question is at what level do you want to work? Mechanics are recruited from other forms of motorsport, starting a Formula Ford, then onto F3 or BTCC, then GP2, Indy car or GT Racing.
Support staff are usually recruited locally.
I spent four years finding sponsors for a major F1 oufit and was lucky enough to be one of two people chosen from a 150....because of industry (sponsorship) experience and specific skills.....a very healthy black book of major players!
You could always work for a sponsor or come out of industry, ie comms, IT, material sciences, the military!
Support staff are usually recruited locally.
I spent four years finding sponsors for a major F1 oufit and was lucky enough to be one of two people chosen from a 150....because of industry (sponsorship) experience and specific skills.....a very healthy black book of major players!
You could always work for a sponsor or come out of industry, ie comms, IT, material sciences, the military!
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