Becoming an Aerodynamicist in F1
6 min read
What’s the fastest speed you have achieved in your passenger vehicle? 80 km/h? 90 km/h? 100 km/h? Or even more? If you enjoy the adrenaline rush of fast cars and have ventured out into 3-digit speeds, you would know how jittery and unstable the car begins to feel after a point of time, and that is probably when you would consider slowing down.
Now, the average speed of an F1 car is 2.5 to 3 times that of passenger vehicles, yet it seems to achieve stable operations at that kind of speed. Ever thought why that’s the case? Basically, aerodynamics are at play.
Aerodynamics 101
Whether you are someone just starting out in motorsport (or specifically, Formula 1), aerodynamics design and testing are most definitely one of the most coveted topics of discussion (apart from the engine of course!)
Before going to the crux of Aerodynamics-based roles in F1, here are some resources that will help you get up to speed on the subject:
- Chain Bear’s video on F1 Aerodynamics (2-Part video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFEzMKYjShc
Chain Bear is one of the best resources on YouTube when it comes to all things tech in F1. Strongly recommended! - Craig Scarborough and Willem Toet explain F1 airflow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjsUwFHQbWo
For those of you who are unaware, Craig (@ScarbsTech) is a veteran Motorsports journalist and Willem was is a former F1 Head of Aerodynamics at Sauber, Ferrari, Benetton, and BAR-Honda. Safe to say, this video is a must-watch! - KYLE.ENGINEERS – Run by Kyle who is a former Aerodynamicist at Mercedes, is a great channel to follow when it comes to F1 Aero. https://www.youtube.com/c/KYLEDRIVES/about
- You can also follow the official YouTube channel of F1 – they put out technical breakdown videos and explainers that’ll really keep you updated with the sport. Here’s one with Scarbs and F1’s Head of Aerodynamics Jason Somerville:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kkNG7QYQTY
These should help you get started – and do follow the subreddits r/F1 and r/F1Technical, to interact with and learn from a like-minded community of F1 fans and experts.
Pursuing a career as an Aerodynamicist in F1
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s go through the specifics of becoming an Aerodynamicist in F1.
Disclaimer – the information below is not intended to be a replacement for professional career advice.
What to study
Since most F1 jobs require one to work out of the UK, one would ideally want to be pursuing their undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the UK itself as the chances of getting the right job at the right time will increase in this manner. Having said that, there are a few universities in India that offer aerodynamics-related degree programs. Some include:
- M.Tech in Aerodynamics – IITs
- M.Tech in Aerodynamics – NITs
- M.Tech in Aerodynamics – VIT
- B.Tech / M.Tech in Aerospace Engineering – IITs
- B.Tech in Aerospace Engineering- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
Note:
- In reference to the Indian subcontinent: Since a UG-level program in Aerodynamics is not common or mainstream, pursuing a Master’s degree in Aerodynamics would make sure you have a better shot at getting a job in F1. Remember that it is important to research the program you intend to choose, to make sure that it falls under the umbrella of aerodynamics.
- It is not mandatory for applicants to have completed a Postgraduate Aero-based degree. Most job listings only have a STEM / Engineering degree as a pre-requisite. However, for applicants that do not have a distinctive Aero background, their projects, software knowledge, or experience in working in the field, should compensate for this.
Here are a few relevant programs based in the UK:
- University of Southampton – Aeronautics/Astronautics
- Loughborough University – Aeronautical Engineering
- University of Cambridge – Engineering with Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering
- University of Bath – Aerospace Engineering
- University of Manchester – Aerospace Engineering
- University of Leicester – Aerospace Engineering
- University of Nottingham – Aerospace Engineering
- University of Surrey – Aerospace Engineering
The list above is definitely not exhaustive. Those enthusiastic to pursue a career as an aerodynamicist, especially in F1, must also do their own research to see what path would be the most suitable based on their individual circumstances.
Required Traits:
The following are a few traits, skill sets, and qualifications an individual should possess or achieve, should they consider pursuing a career as an Aerodynamicist in F1:
- An educational background, preferably a degree or diploma in engineering, math, or physics.
- Technically sound in the subject of aerodynamics.
- Ability to demonstrate practical works or projects completed, relevant to the field (this is where Formula Student experience is a huge bonus point!).
- Familiarity with CFD and 3D CAD software
- Knowledge of software packages like CATIA V5, NX, and a basic understanding of CFD and wind tunnel development programs.
- Should be inherent problem solvers, and should exhibit a sense of intrigue as to how things work around them.
- Should possess a sharp sense of detail and high work ethic.
- Should be confident in their abilities, yet also be humble enough to accept that they would be working with experts in the field.
- Should be able to work within a high-pressure team environment.
- Preferably, have basic background knowledge of motorsports and F1.
Remember, these are only the bare minimum skill sets you should have to crack a career as an Aerodynamicist in F1.
Typical Roles:
All 10 F1 teams hire aerodynamicists under different job roles. Some include :
- CFD Aerodynamics engineer
- Aero Performance Engineer
- Aero Surface Designer
- Aero Mechanical Design Engineer
- Aero Model Technician
- Aero Systems Engineer
- Wind Tunnel Test Technician etc.
Payscale details:
The expected salaries for an entry-level Aerodynamics Engineer in an F1 team in the United Kingdom range from £30,000 – £40,000 per year and would go to upwards of £80,000 – £90,000 depending on the experience of the applicant.
Tips:
- Getting involved with a Formula Student team as soon as possible really helps you get some hands-on, practical experience in the field.
- Sometimes, having an education background from a reputed university can really help with your application. As every F1 team receives hundreds, if not, thousands of applications every year, one of the criteria is to filter CVs by universities with high international rankings (use the QS website to have an idea: https://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-ranking).
- Networking is key: Learn to use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with those working in F1 and those with a similar choice of career path as yours. Their experiences and mistakes will provide you with the guidance to pursue.
Relevant Books:
- Race Cars Aerodynamics by J Katz
- Understanding Aerodynamics by Doug McLean
- How to Build a Car by Adrian Newey
- A Century of Car Aerodynamics: The science and Art of Cars and Airflow by Julian Edgar
Relevant Resources:
- National Motorsport Academy courses: https://motorsport.nda.ac.uk/
- Reddit pages : r/formula1 (https://www.reddit.com/r/formula1/) and r/F1Technical (https://www.reddit.com/r/F1Technical/)
- A collection of threads on Aerodynamics, chassis, and tyres: https://www.f1technical.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=6
- “Getting the Dream Job in Motorsport” by Willem Toet: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/getting-dream-job-willem-toet/
- “First steps to F1 Aero” by Steve Liddle (Principal Aerodynamicist at Aston Martin F1 team): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/first-steps-f1-aero-steve-liddle-ceng-fraes/
References:
- https://motorsportengineer.net/jobs-in-f1-how-to-become-a-formula-1-aerodynamics-design-engineer/
- https://www.motorsportjobs.com/en/job/aerodynamics-engineer-13
- https://jobs.redbull.com/za-en/bicester-scuderia-alphatauri-aerodynamicist-142675-058381
- https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/how-to-become-an-aero-design-engineer/10073479/
- https://formulacareers.com/roles-in-f1/aerodynamics/
- https://www.motorsportjobs.com/en/job/aerodynamic-surface-designer-2
- https://www.glassdoor.co.in
Author Details:
The following blog post has been researched and written by Vishnu S, an F1 enthusiast and writer who is working his way towards working in Formula 1 before he turns 30. After graduating in Electrical Engineering from GEC Thrissur, Vishnu works as a Senior strategist in one of the leading EdTechs in India, and reviews movies on the side.
This post has been edited for grammar and other inconsistencies. To learn how you can contribute to content creation at Formula Bharat, visit www.formulabharat.com/careers.
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