F1 mechanics get to be as up-close and personal with the cars as it gets, jetting all over the world multiple times a year with the role of faultlessly preparing the car in a high-pressure, high-stress, and often high-temperature environment.
But don’t let me scare you off just yet – the best news I have for aspiring F1 mechanics is this: unlike the majority of other F1 careers, there are no specific qualifications or requirements to land a job with an F1 team.
While it would be greatly beneficial to already be a mechanic with some experience in a motorsport setting, if you’re starting at the very beginning and you possess the passion and vigor for the craft that is expected at the premier class of formula racing, you might have what it takes to someday become the next newbie mechanic for a team like Ferrari, Williams or Red Bull.
If this sounds like your calling, we’ve got all the details you need to get on the right track to becoming a mechanic in the glitzy, glamorous world of Formula 1.
What do F1 mechanics do?
The pit crew of any F1 team comprises many men and women working in various areas of the car, from garage and tire technicians to front-end mechanics and performance engineers; there are ample opportunities to work on an aspect of the car that suits your skills or interests best.
Aside from working on the F1 car itself, the team of mechanics must learn to use and operate their equipment, some seemingly from the future, along with other state-of-the-art technologies with precision and accuracy.
After all, the lightning-fast pit stops you see in F1 aren’t without hundreds of “dress rehearsals” from the team because it only takes one small mistake to potentially lose precious seconds that your team really can’t afford to.
I want to be an F1 mechanic?
In short, the most common steps to becoming an F1 mechanic:
- Learn about mechanics with education from a reputable source
- Gain experience working as a car mechanic
- Work with a race team(s) to gain extensive knowledge and experience
- Demonstrate interest in race teams you wish to work for
- Apply for a career in F1
If you’re starting at the very beginning, the first step you can make is to source some formal education or training related to mechanics.
There are many different ways to build your knowledge: from college courses to night classes, open universities to apprenticeships. Nowadays, there are even online courses you can enroll in.
As you learn the theoretical and practical aspects of working on cars, it will open the doors to the many different kinds of vehicles you can competently work on.
Although there is a lot of value in practical skills, you’ll need to be very familiar with how the core systems work on your everyday, run-of-the-mill automobile before you can get your hands on the highly-complex reality of F1 cars.
If you are already a mechanic and feel confident in your skills, it could be a highly beneficial decision to try and apply those skills to a race car as part of a team’s garage crew.
This could involve you offering to volunteer with a team if you can’t find a paid job. First, it could be as little as cleaning the car or organizing parts in the beginning until an opportunity arises to climb to a more hands-on position in the team.
Do you need experience to become an F1 mechanic?
While you don’t need any specific qualifications to get started as a mechanic, if you are lucky enough to enter the sport this way, you’ll most likely have to work your way up from the bottom before being able to progress to other roles with greater involvement and responsibility.
Your chances of securing a team role without any experience in motorsport are slim, understandably – just imagine how many budding hopefuls are applying for such roles, already with some experience to show.
To give yourself the best chances of landing a job as an F1 mechanic, start today and get reading, find a way to receive solid, dependable education, and similarly find a way to practice your skills, either working as a mechanic or with a project of your own.
Ultimately, the more you further your knowledge and master your skills – the better your chances of receiving an opportunity to climb to the heights of F1.
How challenging is the job?
From the outside, working for an F1 team might seem like a glamorous career, endlessly flying to desirable destinations, soaking up the spectacle of F1 in all its glory, but with such a chaotic lifestyle comes some challenges to prepare for.
Constantly being on the move in the fast-moving world of F1 means, for starters, you won’t get the opportunity to spend as much time at home with your friends and family as you perhaps would in more conventional careers; on the upside, they can come to visit you at one of the spectacularly illustrious race tracks throughout the season.
Mastering your skills
For most F1 mechanics in the sport today, it took years of working for various different teams (sometimes for free) in lower categories of motorsport, such as touring cars or GT racing, before they joined the premier class of F1.
Working on different kinds of cars, solving new problems, and overcoming increasingly tougher challenges will allow you to accumulate the kind of knowledge and wisdom that recruiters are looking for in new entrants to their F1 team.
Rising to the challenge
Working in such a relentless, energy-zapping environment means you’ll need to be someone that is both physically fit and mentally strong. The demands of the job call for a high level of attention to detail to be paid to every action you make, with communication skills being another crucial requirement to ensure there is no misunderstanding in the most crucial of moments.
As well as having the physical endurance, eye for detail, and exceptional communication skills needed to thrive as an F1 mechanic, patience is another useful trait to possess as there will be many times, as you’ve probably observed when the mechanic’s job is done, and nothing remains for them to do other than sit and watch helplessly as their driver puts their work to the test.
How much money does an F1 mechanic make?
Starting salaries for F1 mechanics are around $20,000-$25,000 per year, with many other benefits, depending on the team. While this might not sound as lucrative as some would’ve imagined it to be, the average salary is around $40,000, with more senior roles in the team, with salaries in the range of $60,000 to $120,000.
A mechanic’s ultimate vocation
Working as a mechanic in a race series so coveted and prestigious as F1 is a dream for many, and many have achieved that dream, climbing the ranks to trade the typical surroundings of an auto garage for the delightful asphalt of pit lane, setting foot on iconic F1 tracks all around the world, demonstrating their elite skills and knowledge on the main stage.
And with every victory being one for the team, not just the driver, you’ll have the knowledge your efforts were a vital part of the success. F1 really is the ultimate way to take your passion for cars and mechanics to uncharted territory, and if you wear your gloves, you won’t even need to get your hands dirty!
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John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer on Rustyautos.com. He’s been a mechanic for over twenty-five years and has worked for GM, Volvo, Volkswagen, Land Rover, and Jaguar dealerships.
John uses his know-how and experience to write fluff-free articles that help fellow gearheads with all aspects of vehicle ownership, including maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting.
