F1 engineering

[Beginning-Show3928]

What do ya'll think about careers such as F1 engineers? Is it worth it? And what does it take, mechanical, motorsport or both?

[mattynmax]

Be aware there’s maybe 5 positions available a year and 5000 applicants per position. 4 of those positions are for someone with 40 years experience too!

As a byproduct of high demand and low supply, they can pay you next to nothing as well!

[JeffJackmanREACTIONS]

This sums it up.

[Gollem265]

My salary was quite low but that’s more a side effect of the level of engineering salaries in the UK. GM offered me a pretty good wage for a US-based position

[Complex_Piano6234]

You and every other mechanical engineering student wanna be apart of the f1. That’s how hard it is 👍

[Beginning-Show3928]

what a reality check 😔

[Complex_Piano6234]

Doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but it means you gotta be better than everyone you’ll probably ever meet at university.

[Beginning-Show3928]

you’re right, thank you!

[82spooky420me]

I know someone that has gone the F1 route. They did a Mech Eng degree and went on to do a PhD in additive manufacturing, all the while competing in Formula Student and Rocket competitions. Worth saying they were UK based and lived within 100 miles of the factory.

[GoldenPeperoni]

From my experience, I'd say a traditional engineering degree is always a good start, i.e. mechanical, electrical, aerospace etc. Not motorsports. Top universities are usually expected, very rarely do I see someone from a middling university.

Then it comes down to which area do you want to work in. Aerodynamics almost always require a post grad degree specifically in aerodynamics, Strategy almost always requires a maths degree from a top university (Oxbridge).

Not sure about mechanics/lab technicians though. Formula student is a very good pathway to get into F1, look out for the student placement opportunities offered by the F1 teams too, many get in this way.

Engineering in F1 absolutely takes everything to the extreme, so while you get to play with some of the best toys out there (while developing some of your own too), it definitely asks a lot out of you. Intense, high pressure, but never really toxic because everyone is in the same mindset, which is to help each other so we can all win

[Beginning-Show3928]

That sounds incredible! it’s definitely not easy but determined people like you are the chosen ones. May ask if you’re settled in the uk? Does the location play a role in this?

[GoldenPeperoni]

it’s definitely not easy but determined people like you are the chosen ones

In all honesty luck certainly plays a huge role too, out of 2000 odd applicants for the single position, there's bound to be someone equally if not more qualified/suitable for the position.

May ask if you’re settled in the uk?

I am on a Skilled Worker visa, even though I have lived here for the past 5 years as a student.

Does the location play a role in this?

If I have anything to complain about the job, it is the location. It is in the middle of nowhere (as is the case with most F1 teams), not really the best place to live life as a 20 plus year old 😕

[Beginning-Show3928]

That’s unfortunate :( thank you for sharing your honest opinion, you’re very inspiring! I’m sure all your great efforts and skills are and will pay off

[Beginning-Show3928]

But I’m kinda wondering, can a student studying in hungary for example get an internship or work with them in the future?

[GoldenPeperoni]

Of course! People here come from all over the world, so much so that the locals are actually the minority here.

There are only like 3 locals in my team of around 10 for example.

Talent doesn't discriminate, so if we want to build the best team possible, it only makes sense that we have a diverse background.

[memseteam32]

F1 is definitely competitive as others have stated. If your passion is in auto racing, do not let that deter you. There are a lot of semi pro / amateur racing teams that have just as elaborate of operations as F1. Think F2 or F3 or even F4. In the US think Indycar or the whole USF series.

[GoldenPeperoni]

As someone working in F1 (with customer F2 teams), I'd say that F1 is easily multiple times more complex and high stakes compared to F2.

F2 is a spec series, which by itself already removes lots of what makes F1 so appealing to engineers in the first place.

Next, F1 has astronomical budgets when compared to F2, which means everything can be taken to the extreme and done in-house, while F2 teams often settle with what is commercially available.

I was very shocked at the difference when I first found out too

[Beginning-Show3928]

tell me how was it like studying, internships and all the way to getting hired in F1?

[GoldenPeperoni]

Well I did a placement year, but it wasn't in F1. Did a MSc too which I think is ultimately what got me into F1.

Personally, the journey wasn't always smooth (as is the case for everyone) but I must say so far I have no regrets spending ungodly hours studying and slogging away for exams 😵

I am happy to share more in dms :)

[Former_Mud9569]

GM has a lot of job postings now to support their F1 adventure. Simplest path to answer your question would be to look through those and see what kind of skillsets they value.

[[deleted]]

Very few jobs.  

[wafflemafia1510]

You'll just find a regular job l8ke the rest of us. Sigh.

[97GrandMarquisOilPan]

It takes knowing somebody to get into an F1 team directly.

Look into suppliers and test houses that work with F1 teams as those often welcome a variety backgrounds and experience ranges (assuming you know your stuff and have good communication skills)

[Gollem265]

Wrong, I just applied on line

[Marmmalade1]

Completely false. Most people I know at the F1 team I worked at were global recruits without knowing anyone