Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, featuring the fastest cars and the best drivers. Given the cars set benchmarks in terms of speed, lap times and technology, it would be a dream for anyone to work in the sport. You might therefore be wondering how you can get a job in Formula 1.
To get a job in F1, having connections in the motorsport world, gaining experience, and learning the right skills are absolutely vital. While some qualifications may help you, it’s far more important to gain hands on experience in the industry and build up your network as soon as possible.
Whether you want to work as an engineer or in the media department, you need to be able to offer value to your employer if you want to land a position in F1. While the job can be incredibly demanding, it’s also very rewarding. Below, we take a closer look at how you can get a job in F1.
Is It Hard To Get A Job In F1?
It is hard to get a job in F1, largely because it’s such a prestigious sport and there are millions of people that would love to work within it. However, how difficult it is to get a job in Formula 1 largely depends on the job you’re looking to get, and how qualified you are for that position.
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport in all aspects: technological, financial, driver quality, engineering, and much more. Every racing driver and engineer dreams of working in Formula 1, but it’s not as simple as just applying for a job with a racing team. There are a lot of requirements that need to be met.
Even on the media and hospitality side of the sport it’s incredibly difficult to get in. Formula 1 has very high standards as a sport, and whether you’re a graphic designer or an event manager, you will need a wealth of experience and a keen interest in motorsport if you want to make it to the top.
One of the most important things you can do to get a job in Formula 1 is to build up a strong network. You’ll do this naturally as you gain relevant motorsport experience (more on that soon), and building up a list of contacts will make it much easier to get your foot in the door. Contacts will be able to vouch for you, and perhaps make you aware of vacant positions in the sport.
Working In Formula 1
Getting a job in Formula 1 might be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. There are thousands of jobs around the paddock, and not all of them require you to have a top-class engineering degree. As long as you have the right experience, necessary qualifications, and a network of contacts, you could land a much higher position than you might think.
When it comes to working in Formula 1, having motorsport experience is vital. Sometimes Formula 1 teams will choose a more experienced candidate over one that has better qualifications. But it does depend on the role that you are applying for. Keep in mind that both of these factors are important, but in Formula 1 more than anywhere else, relevant experience is king.
Working in Formula 1 is completely different to your standard 9-5 office job. While you might be working with the fastest cars on the planet, the sport itself is also incredibly fast-paced and demanding. There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than you might think, and this is something that many candidates don’t consider.
Even if you do get a job in Formula 1, the hours are long and you spend a lot of time away from home. For many people this is a deal-breaker when it comes to working environments. That’s why having a passion for Formula 1 and motorsport in general is so crucial if you want to work in the sport. But just how competitive is the market for jobs in the sport?
How Competitive Are F1 Jobs?
The F1 jobs market is one of the most competitive in motorsport. This is true whether you want an engineering job at a top team or if you want to be part of the media team at Formula 1 itself. This makes it absolutely key that you are able to stand out from the crowd when applying for a job in F1.
Formula 1 is one of the most challenging sports and industries to get a job in. Whether you want to land a job in social media or be a truck driver transporting the cars between race venues, there is a huge pool with thousands of applicants that you will need to stand out above. It’s not easy to get an offer ahead of candidates with incredible qualifications and experience.
With Formula 1 being the pinnacle of motorsport, everyone aims to be a part of it. Engineers dream of having a career working on the most impressive cars in the world, marketers strive to work with some of the most interesting personalities and environments on the planet, and drivers fight their way into the seat of the most competitive level of motorsport around.
Even if you’re aiming to work at a team’s factory you’ll be up against some of the brightest talents in your industry. Formula 1 teams only hire the best team members because of how competitive they need to be themselves. In order to become World Champions, teams need to have the best staff both at the factory and at the race track.
Is It Worth Working In Formula 1?
The sport is world renowned and the rare job openings that Formula 1 has often receive thousands of applications from candidates all over the globe. Just to be considered for the role, you need to be qualified and have enough experience to stand out above the majority of candidates. Even then, you’re still in a pool of hundreds of other people.
Those who do land a job with Formula 1 also tend to stay there for several years, which means that a missed opportunity could mean that you have to wait several years to reapply, by which time there could be even more candidates throwing their names into the hat for the position that you’re after.
KEY POINTS
• It is incredibly hard to get a job in Formula 1
• There are millions of people around the world that would love to work within the sport
• Setting yourself apart from the other candidates is vital
What Qualifications Do You Need To Get A Job In F1?
Relevant Qualifications
Before choosing a degree to study at university, you need to first decide on the role(s) that you want to fulfill in a Formula 1 team. The race engineer won’t have a degree in hospitality for example. Instead, someone with a hospitality degree will apply to be the team chef or work in the catering department at the factory, while the engineer will have a degree in – you guessed it – engineering.
The qualifications that you have must be relevant to the position that you want to apply for. If you want to work in the garage and get up close and personal with some of the most complex cars in the world, you’re going to need to study an engineering degree. Aerodynamics or physics would be a good direction to go into, with any science degree usually being useful.
If you’re looking to join a team’s social media department or work on some of the sponsorship and PR events that the drivers need to attend, you’ll be better off studying a marketing or communications degree in order to head into the ‘people side’ of a Formula 1 team.
Growing Into The Team
However, your qualifications do not necessarily limit your position in a Formula 1 team. For instance, Mattia Binotto was the head of the engine department for Ferrari, but was eventually promoted to lead the entire team as the Ferrari team principal. It all depends on how you perform in your role and how you can adapt to provide more value to the team.
However, to get your first job at a Formula 1 team, you likely will need to specialize in one area and have the qualifications to back up your application. Once you’ve gained some experience in the team you can begin to explore other avenues that you might be able to go down in the future.
You Need More Than Just Qualifications
Formula 1 isn’t all about qualifications though. A university degree is crucial for many roles, but what’s just as important is their real world experience in motorsport. Formula 1 is not your average job – it’s the most intense motorsport series in the world, and people who work in Formula 1 need to have an understanding of motorsport and how it works.
The best way to be sure that an applicant understands motorsport is for them to have relevant motorsport experience. For example, Red Bull won’t hire a mechanic who has only ever worked on road cars over one who has worked on single seater race cars before. Any motorsport experience, no matter how seemingly small, will count for something when applying for a job in Formula 1.
The Best Degrees For Getting A Job In F1
| Position | Degrees |
| Race Engineer | MathPhysicsMechanical engineeringPhysical science |
| No. 1 Mechanic | MathPhysicsMechanical engineeringPhysical science |
| Aerodynamics Engineer | MathPhysicsChemistryIT |
| Team Principal | Business studiesSports and event managementITEngineeringMathPhysicsForeign languages |
| Travel Coordinator | Travel and tourismForeign languagesITBusiness studies |
| Logistics Coordinator | Travel and tourismLogisticsMath IT |
| Events Manager | Event managementBusiness studiesCommunications and mediaIT |
| Personal Trainer | Biological scienceNutritionSports science |
| Power Unit Engineer | MathPhysicsMechanical engineeringPhysical science |
| Marketing Manager | MarketingBusiness studiesCommunications and mediaJournalism |
| Web Developer | Web designComputer scienceIT |
| Public Relations Officer | MarketingBusiness studiesCommunications and mediaJournalism |
| Hospitality Manager | HospitalityForeign languagesLeisure and tourismMediaBusiness studies |
| Chef | HospitalityCulinary arts |
| Project Planner | Project managementEngineeringIT |
What Experience Do You Need To Get A Job In F1?
You need motorsport experience to get a job in F1, as teams want to hire candidates that understand the industry. Ideally, you will have experience working for junior racing teams, or working within other motorsports in a relevant capacity to the job for which you are applying.
With thousands of applicants to choose from, a Formula 1 team will always choose the candidate that has motorsport relevant experience over the candidate that has no experience or irrelevant experience. Much like the drivers, the other jobs in a Formula 1 team require special expertise and knowledge, which is why experience is essential.
Why Motorsport Experience Is Difficult To Get
Many racing teams, especially on the lower end of the motorsport ladder, do not have the budget to pay the salaries of engineers and mechanics that work for them. Many team members are either paid on a race to race basis, or they volunteer to work for the team to gain experience for their careers.
When you’re starting out, you may need to spend some time helping racing teams out for free before you can land a job that can pay the bills. Many teams won’t be willing to pay you to work for them, especially if you don’t have any experience in your position or in motorsport in general, which means that volunteer work may be the only way to build up the experience you need.
While working for free likely doesn’t sound appealing, it should be an enjoyable experience that is very much worth it if you are passionate about motorsport and want to work your way up the ladder towards F1.
Where To Start
Sometimes the most difficult part to gaining relevant motorsport experience is getting started. You won’t be able to jump straight into Formula 3 or even a regional Formula Renault series. Just like the drivers, team members often need to start as far down as karting. Visiting your local karting track is perhaps your best chance at getting your first taste of motorsport.
The best way to get experience early on in your career is to build up some skills in your chosen position then head down to your local karting circuit to volunteer. Many drivers and parents would love to take on a volunteer mechanic, general team helper, or even a photographer to help them out in the early stages of their career.
Not only does volunteering in motorsport open up more opportunities for you to gain experience, but it’s also a massive boost for your CV or resume. There’s no better way to show your passion and determination to future racing teams than working for free. It shows passion and commitment, and that you are willing to make sacrifices.
Moving Up
In the majority of cases, you can expect to be paid from the Formula 3 level and up. Formula 4 teams may still be too small to pay consistently, but you may be given a race-to-race fee. However, this is still not necessarily a salary you would be able to live off, and you’ll likely need to find other sources of income alongside getting this experience.
There are other options to choose from in motorsport, but overall you want to try and remain as focused on single seaters as possible. This is especially true if you are looking for a job on the car side of things, as an engineer for example.
But exploring other branches of motorsport will open up more career opportunities for you. This option is more suited to those who work on the people side of the sport rather than the technical and mechanical side. However, getting experience in any motorsport is still going to prove useful in your quest to get a job in F1.
Why Single Seaters Are Best
While you’ll still be working with cars either way, there’s a big difference between single seater race cars, such as the ones in Formula Ford all the way up to Formula 1, compared to sports cars and supercars. It’s better to gain mechanical experience in the field that you’re aiming to work in, which is single seaters.
The reason for this is that single seaters are so unique compared to standard cars and there are a lot of different elements and systems that you need to understand, especially if you want to work in the top flight of single seater racing. From adjusting the wings to fine tuning the suspension, you’ll need to know your way around a single seater car to work in a technical capacity in F1.
Alternative Options For Experience
We don’t always have easy access to race tracks nearby with teams looking for newcomers to join. But one alternative option comes in the form of apprenticeships that may be offered by Formula 1 teams. These are the perfect option for graduates who need to gain experience before joining the sport.
Several big teams, such as Red Bull and Mercedes, offer placements, internships, and apprenticeships to people who have recently graduated from school or university. While these positions are often unpaid, they could easily lead to a full time position if you are a good fit.
KEY POINTS
• The exact qualifications you need to get a job in F1 will depend on the role you’re trying to get
• Relevant motorsport experience is arguably the most important thing to have
• You can get this by working for junior motorsport teams, or by joining apprenticeship programs
Is Formula Student A Good Way To Get A Job In F1?
Formula Student can be a good way to get a job in F1, as it’s a formula racing-focused course that tests and builds your skills as part of a racing team. However, it’s not guaranteed that you will get into F1 after participating in the program, as you still need to stand out from the rest.
Formula Student is an initiative that is available in the UK and in the form of FSAE elsewhere in the world. This is an excellent way for young aspiring engineers in university to start their career path into Formula 1. Formula Student requires young students to build their own single seater race car as part of a team.
It’s a good proving ground to consider if you’re planning on pursuing an engineering role in Formula 1. The skills that are required in these programs are directly transferable into real world motorsport series such as Formula 4 all the way up to Formula 1. Performing well in Formula Student will give your CV a massive boost when applying for a job in Formula 1.
However, thousands of people take part in Formula Student programs all over the world every year, and so once again there is a massive pool of talent against which you must be able to stand out. But Formula Student programs can teach you very valuable skills, and F1 teams will value this experience.
Skills You Need To Get A Job In F1
The skills you need to get a job in F1 include:
- Ability to work under pressure
- Determination to succeed
- Ability to work well within a team
- Good problem solving skills
- Attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Innovative thinking
- Ability to work to goals and deadlines
- Receptivity to feedback
Ability To Work Under Pressure
Most jobs require their employees to work well under pressure, but Formula 1 takes it to a whole new level. You might think that it’s just the drivers that are under a lot of pressure, but the entire team is a well-oiled machine, and if you’re holding the team back, you won’t last long.
Even if you’re the chef serving up meals for the team, you need to be able to deliver what you are required to do without making mistakes or cracking under the pressure of Formula 1. The entire sport is fast-paced, and you need to make sure that you keep up with your roles and responsibilities at all times.
You might be traveling from one beautiful country to the next, but this sport is not a holiday. Teams are constantly working, whether you’re unpacking cargo, rebuilding the cars, or packing cargo again to move to the next destination. Everything works under strict time limits, and being late in any area can lead to serious consequences for any Formula 1 team.
Determination To Succeed
Formula 1 is the most competitive form of motorsport in the world. Every team spends millions of dollars each year just to be on the grid, and if you’re not determined to succeed, you won’t fit into a Formula 1 team.
Every team consists of determined individuals who aim to become the best in their respective roles, no matter what job they have. You don’t necessarily need to be a mechanic or a racing driver to help the team become successful.
You don’t need to be competitive for every role in Formula 1, but you do need to have the determination to complete your tasks better than anyone else can. Every individual that works in Formula 1 is highly driven and motivated, so it’s an essential skill to have when applying for a job in Formula 1.
For example, if you’re tasked with cleaning the garages, you want to get your job done as quickly as possible and to the best of your abilities. Your job will directly influence the mechanics who are working on the cars, and you’re helping them to get their job done to the best of their abilities. In other words, you are indirectly adding to the team’s success.
Ability To Work Well Within A Team
Even though the drivers are the superstars of Formula 1, it’s very much a team sport. Every team in Formula 1 works well together, and if you want to work in the sport you need to be able to work well within a team.
Formula 1 teams consist of thousands of team members between the factories and the on-track staff. You need to be able to work well with each team member and synergize with the entire team, especially those in your direct department that you’ll work with on a daily basis.
Every team member plays an important role in Formula 1, no matter how minor their position might seem on the surface. Every job also contributes to the success of the rest of the team. Any Formula 1 team that works well together, from management all the way to the employees that sweep the floors at the factory, will be successful in the sport.
Good Problem Solving Skills
Formula 1 requires people to solve problems. This is especially true if you’re working in management or directly with the car. As the sport is incredibly competitive and you’re working with extremely sensitive machines, it’s likely that problems will arise. Whether it’s mechanical or something else entirely, you need to be able to solve problems quickly and effectively.
Thinking on your feet in a tough scenario can mean the difference between losing a couple of positions on track and ending up a lap down. Problem solving is a skill that every member of a Formula 1 team needs to have, as not all problems occur on track, yet they can have rippling consequences throughout the team.
Attention To Detail
Formula 1 cars are made up of thousands of individual parts. Each of these parts has a unique purpose and role to fulfill. With so many parts used on one car, paying attention to the small details is crucial. Many engineers and mechanics need to be able to spot wear and tear or damage on parts before they become a bigger problem while the car is out on track.
Having this attention to detail will help the team to perform better overall. Paying attention to the smaller parts and the elements that no one else considers to be important can give your team the competitive edge over others on the grid. But even if you’re not on an F1 team, attention to detail is still key, be it in the media sector or in F1’s marketing department.
Excellent Communication Skills
Formula 1 is a sport that requires you to work in a team with a lot of different people. What makes this sport so unique is that it’s filled with people from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds, which means that you will need to fit right in with the entire team, and that’s when communication becomes critical.
As an integral part of a Formula 1 team, you need to have clear communication with other team members. This will help you to work together as a team and accomplish the tasks that you need to in a much more efficient and productive way. As always, the same applies to those working in other sectors of the sport, not just those at the track.
If you’re working in the garage on the car or in the management team, communication becomes even more important. The driver will be speaking to engineers about the elements they need changed on the car in terms of setup, and understanding what they want to have done on the car is a crucial part of working towards a successful race weekend.
It could even be beneficial to understand and converse in different languages. Some drivers are multilingual, and the same goes for team management, engineers, and mechanics. For example, just about the entire Ferrari team (drivers included) can understand and speak Italian, so being fluent in Italian would be a huge advantage there.
Strong Work Ethic
Formula 1 is an incredibly difficult environment to work in. Every team member is driven to succeed and they are all highly motivated to get their jobs done to the best of their abilities. Formula 1 teams do hire the best candidates in the world after all.
If you want to land a job in Formula 1, you need to have an incredibly strong work ethic. It’s impossible to become part of a Formula 1 team and be lazy or work slowly to pass the time. When the team is in race preparation mode, everything is moving at an incredibly fast pace, and you need to be able to get your job done as quickly and efficiently as possible.
If you’re applying to work in Formula 1, you need to make sure that your previous employers can recommend you to the team as a hard worker. So, wherever you’re working to gain experience, you need to make sure that you’re always giving it your all, you’re always willing to learn, and you always show that you’re passionate and keen to do the best job possible.
Innovative Thinking
As the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula 1 has some incredibly tough competition. This can require team members to think innovatively about how they can get the edge over their rivals. Oftentimes it’s these innovative designs that have directly led to a team being incredibly successful.
From the blown diffusers in the early 2010s to the F-ducts and Williams’ active suspension, Formula 1 team members need to think outside the box if they want their team to succeed. The rewards for innovation are huge, as there is the potential to win the greatest prize in all of motorsport.
Innovative thinking can go beyond the performance of the car as well. Modern Formula 1 is all about exposure and social media. This puts more pressure on the creative side of the team to think outside the box when it comes to social media and public relations.
The PR and social media teams are responsible for bringing more exposure to the team and winning over more fans. This will ultimately help the teams to sell more sponsorship deals and boost their revenues. The more sponsorships the team can attract, the more resources they have to put into their cars, and the more successful they can be on the track.
Ability To Work To Goals And Deadlines
Formula 1 teams usually set goals for themselves to achieve. Oftentimes these goals can seem difficult to achieve, and they may come with strict deadlines. A front running team will always aim to win races and score podiums, while a backmarker could be aiming for points despite starting the race from the back of the grid.
This mindset of setting lofty goals will carry throughout the team, and it’s not just for the drivers to achieve. As we know, Formula 1 is a team sport, and every team member contributes to the success of the team. This means that, whether you’re preparing meals for the team or carrying water around for the mechanics, you’re going to be tasked with some goals that are difficult to achieve.
Formula 1 teams will set goals throughout all departments to ensure that every team member has something to work toward. It may be a track-focused goal, or it may be something totally different, such as to gain a certain number of social media followers by the end of the year. No matter the role you have, you need to be comfortable working with lofty goals.
Receptivity To Feedback
In any high pressure environment where the quality of your work can make a big impact, you will need to be open to feedback and criticism. Formula 1 is a difficult environment to work in and it can have a steep learning curve. Teams will pay attention to how you react to the feedback they give you and how you adapt yourself to new situations.
Someone who takes offense to feedback or takes criticism too personally will have a tough time adapting to the world of Formula 1. It takes time to work on this element, but if you want to become part of a Formula 1 team, it’s something you will need to focus on before applying for a position. But how do you know what position is right for you?
Types Of F1 Engineering Jobs
Types of F1 engineering jobs include:
- Race Engineer
- Performance Engineer
- Controls Engineer
- Engine Performance Engineer
- Engine Systems Engineer
- Mechanic
Race Engineer
The race engineer is the main engineer in the team and is directly responsible for one of the cars. This is the engineer that you’ll hear speaking to the driver on the team radio. This engineering position doesn’t require you to have a specific engineering role, but this person will be the most senior engineer in the team for one of the cars.
The race engineer will be chosen from the current pool of engineers in the team, and often it’s the one that is most experienced, most skilled, or has the best relationship with the driver. This engineer is the mouthpiece between the team of engineers in the garage, and the driver out on track.
If the driver needs any changes made to the setup, the race engineer needs to be able to understand the changes that need to be made. The race engineer is also responsible for solving any issues with the car in terms of identifying a problem and resolving it.
Performance Engineer
The performance engineer works closely with the race engineer. The performance engineer dives further into the inner workings and detail of the car which will give them data to make suggestions to the race engineer and the driver.
The performance engineer will look into the telemetry to see where the driver can improve and what changes can be made to the car to improve its performance out on track. However, these changes still need to suit the driver, which is where the race engineer will find a good balance between the two in terms of the setup direction.
The performance engineer will also take a closer look at performance systems such as the differential and the brake bias. This allows the performance engineer to make more suggestions on adjustments the driver can make on the fly between different corners on track, which will help maximize their performance.
Controls Engineer
The controls engineer will focus on the specific controls of the car to ensure that everything is running smoothly, and they are also responsible for making changes if any issues arise. One example of the responsibility of the controls engineer is the gearbox.
The controls engineer will ensure that the gearbox is set up correctly and that power is always delivered to the wheels without threatening the reliability of the car or causing a higher risk to the engine or gearbox.
The controls engineer has a widespread range of duties and responsibilities throughout the course of a race weekend. However, their duties are incredibly specialized, so they might not be needed at all times. Instead, their job could kick into gear at any time when they are needed, which means they’re always trackside.
Engine Performance Engineer
Complex Formula 1 power units need to be worked on during the course of a race weekend. The engine performance engineer is responsible for the performance of the engine and getting the most out of it at all times.
Engine power plays an important role in Formula 1, so it’s no surprise that there is a dedicated role just for fine tuning the engine and ensuring that it is running at maximum capacity. It’s an incredibly difficult job, especially with the modern V6 hybrid systems that have become so complex over the years.
The engine performance engineer has one of the most important roles in a Formula 1 team, but it’s also one of the most difficult. You need to have an incredible amount of mechanical knowledge and understanding to be a good candidate for this position.
Engine Systems Engineer
Due to the complexity of Formula 1 power units, there are two different engineers required to work on them. The engine systems engineer is responsible for the reliability of the power unit. They need to work alongside the engine performance engineer because it’s difficult to keep an engine reliable when it’s performing at maximum capacity.
Engine reliability is crucial in Formula 1 because of the strict rules that are in place. Drivers can only use three engines per season, which means that they each need to last several races or else they will have to take a grid penalty. So, the engine life of a Formula 1 car needs to be carefully monitored by the engine systems engineer to ensure a balance between performance and reliability.
Mechanic
Mechanics are incredibly important in Formula 1 too. These team members are often working on the car setup, repairing any damage to the car, or taking the car apart and rebuilding it when moving from one race track to another. Mechanics are also responsible for pit stops, which puts them under a lot of pressure to perform during a race weekend.
Every car will have a number one mechanic and a number two mechanic. These mechanics are in charge of the team for each car. They will be working directly with the race engineer and the driver to delegate tasks to the rest of the team in terms of what they need to change on the car setup.
The mechanics are often the busiest team members throughout the weekend. If they’re not working on the car and changing the setup or practicing their pit stops, they will be packing cargo, stripping the car apart to move it, or rebuilding the car to prepare it for the upcoming race weekend.
Types Of F1 Factory Jobs
Types of F1 factory jobs include:
- Various Engineering Roles
- Aerodynamicist
- PU Development
- Painters
- Simulator Roles
- Hospitality
Engineer
Formula 1 factories are home to several different types of engineers. Just like at the race track, these engineers are responsible for building the cars and designing it in such a way that they will be able to get the better of their competition once the car hits the track.
Engineers at the factory will be working on different upgrades that can be put onto the car throughout the season. Upgrades are important in Formula 1 and if a team can’t keep up in the development race, it’s likely that they will fall behind their competition and lose races.
Aerodynamicist
The aerodynamics department is one of the most crucial performance departments in the factory. Aerodynamic engineers will be testing several different designs on computerized systems and building scale models to test in the wind tunnels.
Oftentimes it’s the aerodynamic engineers that need to think outside the box to help their cars produce as much downforce as they can, without losing time on the straights by adding too much drag. It can be especially difficult to think outside the box while still complying to the strict regulations that Formula 1 enforces onto teams, making this a role that favors those that can think creatively.
PU Development
The power unit engineers and developers are responsible for building the engines for the entire season and maintaining them. Much like the engineers at the track, these engineers need to make sure that the engines are performing at their best and that they are reliable.
Some teams will build their own engines, whereas others will be customers. Customer teams will buy engines from another manufacturer, such as Haas getting their engines from Ferrari, and they may also need to hire Ferrari engineers to build and maintain the engines in their factory.
Painters
Formula 1 teams have dedicated departments that are responsible for painting the cars. Every car has a unique livery that is painted on the car. The teams do not wrap their cars as this would become damaged easily with the speeds and debris F1 cars encounter during a race, and some of the parts are simply too small to easily wrap.
Painting a Formula 1 car requires a lot of precision and care. Every car on the team has to look the same, and the paint needs to be applied correctly as adding more layers will add more weight to the car and make it slower. This is a job that requires a steady hand and a keen eye for detail.
Simulator Roles
Simulators have become an incredibly important part of modern Formula 1. Every team has their own simulators, and drivers will use these simulators to learn new tracks, adjust their racing lines, and even work on their setups ahead of the race weekend so that they have somewhere to start for Free Practice 1 on Friday.
Formula 1 simulators are incredibly complex, and they require a dedicated team to run them. Simulator engineers will ensure that the simulator is running smoothly and that the handling of the car is as realistic as possible. They will also be adjusting the car setup on the simulator based on the driver’s feedback, and this all helps the race team at the track too.
Hospitality
Hospitality and catering is important in Formula 1 factories. Whether it’s a barista or a chef, there’s always a need for some form of hospitality at a Formula 1 factory. Teams may also invite guests to the factory, be it for tours or special events, and this requires a dedicated hospitality team.
But hospitality can even extend to the track as well. Chefs, waiters, baristas, and tour guides can all be found at the team hospitality centers in the Formula 1 paddock. These roles are important when it comes serving the team and the fans in the VIP areas.
Types Of F1 Media Jobs
Types of F1 media jobs include:
- Social Media Management
- Graphic Design
- Public Relations
- Marketing
- Broadcasting
Social Media Management
Social media has become vital for every Formula 1 team, and the sport as a whole, in recent years. Between Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, Formula 1 teams need to make sure that they have a strong online presence that allows fans to engage with the sport and get behind the scenes access that they never could in the past.
Even Formula 1 has a strong social media presence, and with YouTube series like Grill the Grid and frequent podcasts, Formula 1 has become more accessible and more active than ever before. This has played a massive role in the growth that Formula 1 has experienced in recent years.
Graphic Design
Graphic designers in Formula 1 have some of the most exciting jobs. Designers in Formula 1 teams get to design the car’s liveries every season and see them come to life. They also create designs for social media and website use, so it’s an environment that requires a lot of creativity.
Public Relations
Public relations plays a vital role in Formula 1, and teams will always be fighting to get the better over their competition because it means that they can win over new fans. The better a team’s PR is, the better they can market themselves and attract more sponsors.
Public relations is never easy though, especially in a high pressure environment such as Formula 1 where drivers can quickly step out of line with their words or actions. The emotionally charged drivers can often react in a way that’s bad for the team’s PR, which means that the team needs to work harder to fix their fans’ perceptions of them.
Marketing
Marketing is important for any business, but for a multi-million dollar Formula 1 team it’s crucial. Formula 1 teams have several different sources of income, but one of the main sources of income is sponsorship. Having a marketable team is essential to selling sponsorship deals and keeping the team alive.
Formula 1 has also focused massively on marketing ever since Liberty Media took over. The sport has been jumping onto social media trends and has also joined Netflix in an attempt to market the sport to new fans with its Drive to Survive series. This makes the marketing department in F1 in general a very exciting place to work.
Broadcasting
Broadcasting the global sport is a difficult task. Formula 1 has a broadcasting center that travels to each race venue, and the process of filming Formula 1 races is immense, with thousands of cameras and hundreds of crew members moving from race to race.
From camera crews to TV directors, there are a whole host of roles to be filled in the broadcasting department. Formula 1 broadcasts need to be perfect, and any drop in quality or any missed action could cost the sport a lot of money and give them a poor reputation – such as the Lance Stroll moment in Monaco in 2021, when the camera missed the only overtake of the race!
Types Of F1 Logistics Jobs
Types of F1 logistics jobs include:
- Travel Coordinator
- Logistics Management
- Transport Team
Travel Coordinator
The travel coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all the people on the team are traveling to the right place at the right time. They will be in charge of arranging visas, flights, accommodation, and even the smaller elements such as transport to and from the race track and shuttles to the airport.
It’s an incredibly difficult job as the travel coordinator may need to arrange travel for hundreds of team members throughout the course of the season to various different locations. Having different nationalities makes it even more difficult, as there is also the challenge of getting visas approved and ensuring that the team members can travel to the country where the race is being hosted.
Travel coordinators often work from the factory, but they are still under a lot of pressure. There is very little room for error as the team members that travel to the race tracks are all incredibly important and cannot be left behind.
Logistics Management
The logistics management team is responsible for ensuring that all of the equipment arrives at the race venues on time. This is another difficult task as they need to take into consideration the fact that cargo needs to be packed up before it can be sent to the next race venue. Any delays could cause some serious headaches.
This role is vital for both Formula 1 teams and for the sport as a whole. While the teams and the Formula 1 group all travel to the same area, moving the heavy and expensive equipment can be incredibly difficult. Logistics managers need to ensure that their cargo will make it to its destination on time and in one piece.
Transport Team
Every F1 team will have their own transport teams that consist of truck drivers and other staff that help the team move from race to race. These roles are high-pressure positions, and they involve working long hours and traveling almost constantly. However, they are an absolutely integral part of any Formula 1 team.
F1 Salaries Guide
| Position | Annual Salaries |
| PU Engineer | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| Race Engineer | $40,000 – $80,000 |
| Aerodynamicist | $50,000 – $70,000 |
| Electronics Engineer | $40,000 – $65,000 |
| Accountant | $50,000 – $60,000 |
| Marketing Manager | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| Web Developer | $35,000 – $50,000 |
| Software Engineer | $35,000 – $50,000 |
| Simulator Engineer | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| Mechanics | $30,000 – $40,000 |
| Truck Driver | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| Hospitality Manager | $20,000 – $30,000 |
| Travel Coordinator | $20,000 – $30,000 |
| Event Manager | $20,000 – $30,000 |
The salaries in the table above are estimates for various positions within Formula 1. Obviously the lower and upper end of each position’s salaries will vary depending on many factors, including your own experience and the team for which you’re working.
Final Thoughts
To get a job in Formula 1, you will first need to decide what kind of role you would like to have in the sport. Then, it’s a case of gaining relevant motorsport experience, getting any required qualifications, and building up a strong network. Getting a job in Formula 1 is incredibly difficult.
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