When you say you want to design a F1 engine, I assume you want to work for a F1 engine builder? True design of a F1 engine or these days a PU, is a collaboration of engineers usually with a director, several project leaders each assigned to a certain areas of the PU with staff below them. Generally speaking, there are engineers that specialize in design work and engineers that specialize in materials and manufacturing. I don't want to discourage you but F1 is a very, very small sector of the automotive arena so I would probably focus on a larger scope and then eventually try to work into F1 racing if that's your desire. I spent over 40 years in the automotive industry, over 20 years in the racing arena and close to 10 in F1 for Honda. I also have a nephew working for Honda currently in their F1 program. It is definitely very, very stressful and you have to enjoy racing or you will hate working in that department.
I don't know where you are or how old you are but first focus on your education. Go to a university with a good engineering program and getting a graduate degree in mechanical engineering is almost a must. Just a 4 year degree in mechanical engineering will probably not land you a position in a F1 department. Currently there are 4 engine manufacturers. One in Germany, one in France, one in Italy and one in Japan. You must be fluent in their native language. While you are attending the university, I would seek an internship before you graduate with a major automobile manufacturer that is involved in racing in one form or another. If you seek only those involved in F1, you are limiting your options too much. You never know when a company must suddenly decide to quit F1 or get involved, although the latter is more likely. Feel free to PM me if you want more details. I still have contacts at Honda and HPP
“If Honda does not race, there is no Honda.”
“Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.”
Greg Locock wrote:Are you seriously suggesting that speaking German French Italian or Japanese will be necessary to work at McLaren?
The OP stated he wanted to design F1 engines. Last time I checked, Honda is supplying the PU's for McLaren. I guarantee you, if you don't speak Japanese, you're not going to on the engineering staff for Honda Racing.
HPP is a unique situation where the approximately 500 workers at Brixworth are split about two-thirds are transplants from Mercedes in Germany and the rest mostly from Europe that were hired at HHP in Brixworth. I know that not all the positions were filled in the UK. I have two acquaintances currently working at HHP whom both are German nationals who came from Mercedes in Germany and they have told me the majority of the engineering staff are German, not British, FWIW.
“If Honda does not race, there is no Honda.”
“Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.”
Greg Locock wrote:Are you seriously suggesting that speaking German French Italian or Japanese will be necessary to work at McLaren?
The OP stated he wanted to design F1 engines. Last time I checked, Honda is supplying the PU's for McLaren. I guarantee you, if you don't speak Japanese, you're not going to on the engineering staff for Honda Racing.
HPP is a unique situation where the approximately 500 workers at Brixworth are split about two-thirds are transplants from Mercedes in Germany and the rest mostly from Europe that were hired at HHP in Brixworth. I know that not all the positions were filled in the UK. I have two acquaintances currently working at HHP whom both are German nationals who came from Mercedes in Germany and they have told me the majority of the engineering staff are German, not British, FWIW.
There may be many Germans, but is German the commonly used language? I would be really surprised, as nearly all of Germany's top educated engineers speak English which cannot be said the other way around. This is based on my own experience working as a foreign engineer in Germany.
Check HPP's career website. The pages are only available in English and the vacancies do not state any requirement about proficiency in the German language. They would not omit something so crucial if the requirement were there.
I'm sure you are right about Renault and Honda though. So if you're only fluent in English and you want to work on F1 engines, your only option is currently Mercedes. Or Ilmor perhaps.
Skippon wrote:If you say so Wazari San - but your sources are misleading you.....
I hope they're not misleading me. I know there was a huge shift in the distribution of the workforce in the mid 2000's when Mercedes finally took 100% ownership of Ilmor and prior to that Hubview Limited.
“If Honda does not race, there is no Honda.”
“Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.”
Wazari wrote:
HPP is a unique situation where the approximately 500 workers at Brixworth are split about two-thirds are transplants from Mercedes in Germany and the rest mostly from Europe that were hired at HHP in Brixworth. I know that not all the positions were filled in the UK. I have two acquaintances currently working at HHP whom both are German nationals who came from Mercedes in Germany and they have told me the majority of the engineering staff are German, not British, FWIW.
Wazari, while you insights on Honda are interesting and seem to be spot on, what you are saying about HPP is completely wrong and very far from the truth.
I think you need to ask your sources to stop telling you rubbish.
"A pretentious quote taken out of context to make me look deep" - Some old racing driver
Apparently my information received about HPP is incorrect so I apologize for the misinformation with regards to HPP. I will consider my source at HPP to be unreliable.
“If Honda does not race, there is no Honda.”
“Success represents the 1% of your work which results from the 99% that is called failure.”
