Met some BWM Race Engineers

[Smeerak]

So I'm on the Metro (Subway) heading to the island to take in the 2004 Montreal Grand Prix qualifying laps and who do I meet? 4 guys in full BWM race atire with tons of laptops and other gear in those nice shiny aluminum cases on wheels i.e ... Race Engineers.

I chatted with them a bit, asked about a getting into the industry, what it was like, minimum requirements etc...

Only chatted for a few minutes a) it's Williams and they were probably stressed out of their minds (bringing the race equpment back to the hotel to work on all night) b) they were on the Subway, one might have thought they would "ride in style" and c) well I'm sure it would have been just rude to ask a stream of questions ... never the less it was cool to see.

cheers,

[Bear-F1]

So what did they say about how to get in to the buisness and such. What were minimum requirements? Thanks a bunch.
Casey

[CFDruss]

When I first applied to F1 teams back in 1996, I was sent replies of the minimum requirements to enter the field, The info I was sent, which I still have was no qualification to enter as a mechanic, and a minimum of a degree and 3 years experience as an engineer.

However, now, it seems increasingly harder to enter in to an engineering position with out a Ph.D. which is frustrating, cause non of the team offer Ph.D. sponsorship unless you are prince William of race car engineering.

Which leave people like me, with burst loads of determination to learn, left thinking......well what can I do and thanks for helping!!!!

[West]

I emailed Renault F1 last year for an internship and they sent me those requirements too. Basically, for engineers, you should have worked for a lower formula like F3000 for a number of years. Mechanics had to have experience in lower formula as well. They then told me to work in apprentices in automotive guilds, whatever the hell they are, cuz i have never heard of that in America.

Try applying for janitorial work; im sure they would need some. Or perhaps coffee makers.

[pompelmo]

If we share experiences..I've met some Ferrari bosses!
Nice guys! They were interested in me beacuse I study
physics in feild of mechanics of continuim's (fluid dynamics,..)!
They said I can call them when I finish my studies

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well I've spoken with Domingos Piedade (Director of the Estoril track and Managing Director of AMG)...his also the father of Guido Piedade (sporting director at BAR) and well he didn't really give me or tell me what to do....he just said: "you know quite a bit of the tech part of F1....so keep on working and you might end up in F1"! LOL

About contacting the teams....about 2 weeks ago I e-mailed 2 Jordan and Williams asking the requirements for both mechanics and engineers....I'm still waiting for the answer....but I'll post the answer as soon as I get it.

[akbar21881]

Seems that many people here are interested in becoming F1 engineer,including me.

Here is something interesting.Check it out: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/altran

The prizes would be 6 month placement at Renault F1,with montly salary and free car and apartment.

The competition is not hard,its just about enhancing performance of F1 car in several areas.Judging by all post here,seems that many of us know a bit about F1 technology.So waste no time..enter the competition.

But, be quick,the deadline is 30 June.I'm participating as well,writing about enhancing performance from materials point of view.If many people are insterested,maybe we can talk about this in a specific topic.

Plus,check out Mclaren website.They have similar offering,although its not a competition,just a normal application.

Cheers.

[Monstrobolaxa]

Yup....already a competitor in that competition well be sending my project on Tuesday night....a few days before the deadline.

[akbar21881]

Monstro,in what aspect are you working on for this competition?I'm doing material.Care to revealed your project to me,your rival??hehe

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well I'm basicly exploring the reduction of overall drag on the stagnation points of the car, without influencing the air flow over the wings.

The "paper" is basicly about the nose cone.....but it can be applied around the side pod inlet.

(notice that I'm not from or study in the UK so I am not participating in the competition...but I've spoken with the organizers and they agreed to show my paper to the Renault engineers and they would contact me....to tell me if the project was to any interest or not)

[Monstrobolaxa]

Humm....just remembered...in order to get a little more stuff in my CV....I design and build prototypes for the Shell Eco Marathon...so each time I go to the race....I get something new in my CV. (though due to lack of sponsors I've only got o go to France once....though I have 3 cars already built!!!! )

Besides that my end of degree project is going to be the design of a F. SAE or a F1 car (just aerodynamics) with the 2008 tech regulations (so I hope they come out as soon as possible).

Something else...I'm going to take the motorsport engineering course at Carlin Motorsport - 3 days for 400 pounds (just to confirm that this is what I really want)....and I also want to take a Mst and PhD at Cranfield.

[Guest]

You want to come to cranfield??I heard its very good for aero engineering.but since now(last week) I am officially aeronautical engineering graduate from bristol uni,I don't care about it anymore.

You want to design F1 car??Go on mate!!But remember to share with me how it goes.I'm interested as well,but,oh well,being a graduate,there's a lot more things to do..finding job etc.

I'm jeolous to hear that you can do fsae/f1 for final year project.In bristol we can't do that.I did composite materials for my research,and thats what I'm gonna write for altran competition.

[akbar21881]

You want to come to cranfield??I heard its very good for aero engineering.but since now(last week) I am officially aeronautical engineering graduate from bristol uni,I don't care about it anymore.

You want to design F1 car??Go on mate!!But remember to share with me how it goes.I'm interested as well,but,oh well,being a graduate,there's a lot more things to do..finding job etc.

I'm jeolous to hear that you can do fsae/f1 for final year project.In bristol we can't do that.I did composite materials for my research,and thats what I'm gonna write for altran competition.

*forgot to log in!!

[Guest]

first you must work un a f3 or f 3000 team . university to f1 it´s impossible

[Monstrobolaxa]

Well yup akbar Cranfield is quite good for aeronautics.....since I'm already in aeronautics....I'll just try Cranfield as a Mst and for the Phd.

About the guests post....it isn't totally impossible...Williams sponsor 2 students each year as Masters students at Cranfield..at the end they do their internship at Williams!....It's not impossible...but it is very unlikely! Southampton and Imperial college work with Jordan. Renault also works with Cranfield....