GETTING A JOB IN FORMULA ONE

Are you looking for a job with guaranteed excitement and satisfaction?

Get yourself in the midst of high-level automobile creativity and racing technology, travel the world, experience the build-up, the glitz and glamour, and of course the action - hopefully culminating with champagne on the podium!

Luckily, there are a wide range of jobs available in Formula One – increasing the chances of finding the right one for you. And not all of them require formal qualifications.

So, what are these jobs? And what qualifications do you need to get them?

1. Engineer: The minimum qualification you will need to be a Formula One engineer is a good engineering degree. But a Master’s or a PhD will considerably improve your chances of edging out the other candidates at interview. A good knowledge of maths and science is also needed, as are decent communication skills.
There are multiple engineering roles within Formula One: working with the driver to ensure that the car is set up for their requirements, creating the perfect racing strategy by analysing race data and making sure that the car is optimised for the track.

2. Technician: Formal qualifications are not necessary, but GCSEs will help your application. A desirable skill for a Formula One technician is the ability to adapt. The experience that you gain will be invaluable throughout your career as you collect knowledge in a variety of situations.
Garage technicians are needed to assist with everything from moving shipping containers, to preparing tyres etc – the important thing to remember is that the role is diverse – hence the need for adaptability. Perfect for a candidate who prefers variety to a strict schedule of work.

3. Mechanic: Again, no formal qualifications are necessary for a role as a Formula One mechanic – but they do help of course. Skills and experience are what will make you suitable for the job, as will mechanical knowledge. To show that you have the right skills necessary for a Formula One mechanic, it is likely that you will need to do some work for free in the lower tiers – to build up crucial knowledge and experience.
Without the mechanics there would be no working Formula One car. This essential role is as close as a non-driver can get to the car!

4. Machinist: Working as a Formula One machinist can require a variety of qualifications. Experience with different machines, mathematical skills and being a team player will all help with your application. Computer skills are also important, as much of the machinist’s job is to programme the machines to cut precise measurements – according to the specific design. This is a very ‘hands on’ role.
They are not required to attend races, but machinists are a vital part of a Formula One team: skilled machinists create parts for the cars – without which there would (of course) be no cars.

5. Coordinator: Become part of the foundation of the Formula One world. As a fan it is unlikely that you will imagine how many people work tirelessly behind the scenes for everything to run like clockwork.
There are a variety of qualifications that will suit a coordinator role, just as are there many coordinators needed for different departments. The most important requirements are good communication and planning skills.
Assist your team with everything they need to get to the race on time, take care of the needs of guests and sponsors, deal with paperwork and any issues as they occur. This role is essential for the running of Formula One and perfect for those who relish a challenge.

6. Communications: To get involved in Formula One communications a degree in Journalism or PR is typically required. Important skills are initiative, passion and adaptability.
Media and the organisations involved in Formula One carefully monitor team and driver communications – because of this, it is vital that any message that the teams put out is planned wisely. This helps to avoid any possible misunderstandings and assists in promoting the correct image of the team/driver.

7. Photographer: While there are no specific qualifications necessary for a Formula One photographer role, to be successful - knowledge and experience of photography are essential. Organisational skills are also important.
A well-trodden way into this role is when a Formula One fan is also an amateur photographer, this allows for a lot of practise time to improve the quality of the images until they are of a standard at which the media wish to purchase them. This is a very ‘close to the action’ role. It is important to have good communication skills so that you can promote your work and build a rapport with the drivers.
This is a role in which you miss very little, as you will cover the entire weekend of racing and if you’re doing it right – you will become part of the Formula One community.

8. Creative: A degree in the creative field in which you wish to achieve a role is helpful, but not necessary. You will, however, need to show your design skills and some knowledge of motorsports. Organisation skills are crucial.
Again, there are many different creative avenues available in Formula One: running social media, designing liveries or doing photo/video shoots are just some of them.

9. Buying: Another role that doesn’t require specific qualifications - but does require valuable skills. A Formula One buyer needs to have excellent people skills, to be good at building business relationships and have the ability to negotiate.
The buyer must ensure that the team has everything they need, when they need it – from shipping cars (and their parts) to races, to tyre trolleys, catering and merchandise purchases. All the while ensuring they have got the best prices for these items.

10. Team Principal: Think big and go straight to the top of the team! There are no specified qualifications for this role – but leadership skills are essential. Candidates must be decisive, passionate and have good communication skills.
Not for the faint-hearted, the Formula One Team Principal will lead a team of hundreds or possibly thousands. The goal: success in Formula One.