Main Careers in Formula One
- therookiereporters
- Jul 22
- 3 min read
Do you have an interest in working in the F1 world but you have no idea what career to choose? Here is a list of the main F1 career options.
Driver
First and foremost the most obvious answer. The F1 drivers are the stars of the industry,however this is also the hardest career out of the bunch to achieve. You need to have the talent, the patience and sadly, you need the money. F1 drivers start karting at a young age and climb the ladder to F4, F3, F2 and in extremely lucky cases F1. This job is highly demanding and not for the faint of heart.
Subjects that you should consider studying are: Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Science.
Race Team
Main roles: Race engineers and Mechanics
Race Engineers are responsible for a vast majority of tasks such as organising race aspects like tyre choices, car setups and fuel amounts. You will often hear them in contact with a driver during races over team radio.They are also in charge of the planning pre-race as well as post-race debriefs. It is important that they have a trusting relationship with the driver as they are the main link between them and the rest of the garage.
Race Team Mechanics have a scale of responsibilities, ranging from adjusting the car to advance performance, maintaining and repairing the car and making sure everything runs smoothly.
Subjects you should consider: Mathematics, English, Physics, Chemistry, Technology, Engineering and IT
Aerodynamics
“Aerodynamics in motorsport is the study of how air flows around the car and how it can be manipulated to improve its performance” (F1.com)
This aspect of racing is crucial in Formula One and can separate the winner from the rest of the grid.There are multiple roles within this area: Aerodynamicists, Data Analysts, CFD Engineers and Wind Tunnel Technicians.
Subjects to consider: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Technology.
Design
Chief Designer:
Chief designers are the head of the design department, putting them in charge of overseeing the whole department, making sure deadlines are met and signing off on designs that have already been tested.
Design Engineer
This job typically involves designing the different components for the car, especially the different parts of the engine.This job is required for maximum functionality of the car.
Subjects to consider for a career in design: Mathematics, English, Physics, Art, IT, Design, Chemistry, Languages
Hospitality
Furthermore,we have hospitality. They usually work at the venue or hotel where events are held and where guests stay.
Hosts
They look after guests during their stay and usually own the venue. They also greet guests at the hotel.
Hospitality Supervisors
In charge of organising and running the variety of hospitality teams. If anything does go wrong, it's their job to fix it or get someone to fix it.
Catering staff
Chefs and serving staff, keeping everyone happy and fed. They run the kitchen, the restaurant/bar (if there is one) and also clean up after meals.
Subjects to consider: Maths, English, IT, Languages and Home Economics
Marshalling
This critical role was introduced to ensure everyone's safety during races (on and off tracks). The roles often include the rescue unit crew, pit lane marshalls, fire marshalls, flag marshalls, trackside and spectator marshalls and incident officers.
Of course there are many different career paths in the Formula One industry. From journalists to broadcasters to media management there is a place for everyone.
Article written by Mia Pitzer
