FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Jasonsc]

Greetings F1 forum,

Firstly let me say, I hope this is the right section for this post ... I couldn't see another which would be more appropriate, but mods please feel free to re-locate.

So a little background for this question(s) I have. I'm 19, in university studying business, after this year (if I do well enough in exams!) I'll have a pretty wide selection of courses available to me, obviously all the businessy ones, marketing, logistics, so on. But I could also apply for entirely different courses as well.

I was never sure what career I wanted to aim for in the last few years, but I have a bit of an entrepreneurial streak in me, so I decided I would just go for business. I prefer some aspects of business more than others, particularly marketing and logistics, was still was not sure if I would want to make a career of them. Marketing, maybe. Logistics, I think probably yes.

I have a lot of friends, and they are doing courses about things which they are passionate. Film, music, horticulture, etc. While business is pretty good, I could never really relate it to a job which I would be passionate about.

Then, while watching this years F1 season, it hit me, I would LOVE to work (in some way) with an F1/GP2/etc team. I love to travel, and I've always known that is something I'd like in a job too, the bigger racing divisions are obviously good for this, but perhaps not so much the small national ones?
I also just love motorsport in general.

Anyway, I'm not sure what options lay open to me in terms of jobs with a team. Obviously all the mechanics and engineers etc, but that would require me to take a completely different course (not that it isn't an option, but I'm not sure I have the head to be an engineer).
Then I know there is logistics, which I'm interested in, and marketing. But that's really all I know.

What other jobs are available on racing teams? Preferably something non-technical like engineering or a mechanic, but if it's relevant than mention it please! I would prefer to feel involved with the team, and unfortunately I would imagine that marketers/logistics personnel, would not feel as involved? Maybe I'm wrong?

Are teams hard to find work with? Obviously if I was a logistics or marketing graduate I could take other jobs and wait for an opportunity, but with a qualification more race specific maybe this wouldn't be possible?

Am I being un-realistic?

Have been thinking about this for a while, and need to start applying for courses and such next year soon, so I decided I had better go find some information.
Would appreciate any advice / experience / insights you people have,
Cheers,
Jason

[What's Burning?]

Welcome Jason, perhaps this thread will be moved out of the greeting section and placed somewhere else, but you seem to have some focus and that's always good, one general suggestion I'd make is to attend an F1 event and just have a good look around see who is doing what see if you can talk to a peripheral person that would be willing to talk to you and understand the non racing side of the sport. Logistics is probably the obvious choice but I wouldn't completely disregard the business side of it. You could also look as working for some of the managements companies and get into the sport that way.

Again, welcome and enjoy whatever career path you choose.

[Jasonsc]

Hey Burn,

Thanks for the reply! Very good suggestion regarding attending an F1 event. I have wanted to go to one for many years, but have never yet because of the price mostly. I live in Ireland where unfortunately we don't get a race on the calender (it would be pretty funny if we did, really).

However, I think this may be my way of justifying it to myself! Shall have to think about getting to one early next season!

Logistics does seem obvious, but I'm not sure if the F1 teams use third party logistics providers? I'm fairly sure F1 is sponsored by DHL?

[Jabberwocky]

Have a look here for some jobs

http://www.autosport.com/directory/appointments.html

you might get an idea of where you would like to work. Has your place of study got a careers advisor that could help?

I got offered a job with Williams a long time ago by writing to the head of the department that I wanted to work in (using his name instead of the position) I could not take the job in the end as could not get out of my existing contract in time.

[Jasonsc]

Interesting link Jabber, thanks! I'll have to keep an eye on that and see what kind of offers are going.

I'm in one of the biggest universities in Ireland, they do have a career's councilor who I was planning to go and speak to sometimes this week. I figured I would ask here as well though, as the business end of motorsport can't really be that big of a job fantasy!

Very cool how you were offered that job! Musta felt great. Do you work for a team at the moment?

My main problem is trying to figure out what to study so I can shoot for these careers. If I had the head for numbers, it would be cool to be a race engineer or something, but ah well.
I also find myself a quite good driver, it's a pity the amateur championships are so expensive to drive in though for the season! But driving is a true pipe dream, at least with my line of thought now I feel that there is at least some element of realism.

[hounddub]

I also find myself a quite good driver

Gee, that's impressive self-assessment!.... besides, if you haven't got any racing experience by now....you're pushing sh#t uphill if you want to drive. Better save your pennies and go pay racing in a club formula.

[Jabberwocky]

Interesting link Jabber, thanks! I'll have to keep an eye on that and see what kind of offers are going.

I'm in one of the biggest universities in Ireland, they do have a career's councilor who I was planning to go and speak to sometimes this week. I figured I would ask here as well though, as the business end of motorsport can't really be that big of a job fantasy!

Very cool how you were offered that job! Musta felt great. Do you work for a team at the moment?

My main problem is trying to figure out what to study so I can shoot for these careers. If I had the head for numbers, it would be cool to be a race engineer or something, but ah well.
I also find myself a quite good driver, it's a pity the amateur championships are so expensive to drive in though for the season! But driving is a true pipe dream, at least with my line of thought now I feel that there is at least some element of realism.

No, I stayed with the company I was with in the end. (no not an f1 team)

How about going for a mooch around the pits at mallory park on a race weekend see if you can get any ideas.

Which areas of schooling did you do well in?

[Jasonsc]

True, Mallory park would be fantastically cheaper than 400E for a F1GP ticket. I shall have to make some plans.

Silly comment on my part houn! What I should have said is I've always had an interest in racing and seemed to always do the best of the group at karting days...but that says nothing really anyway!

As far as schooling, I actually done pretty good in maths, but it was the lower level as apposed to honors level or applied maths. Twas easy stuff. Also done well in English, Business and Geography. Not that English and Geography are really relevant (I guess?).
In university, I find I'm pretty bad at Accounting, Law, Finance, etc. Just got no interest in them. Do pretty well in Logistics, Marketing, IT and things like this. Also do OK at Quantitative Techniques, but it's not so hard.


In terms of racing, Logistics would be cool ... but I don't think I would feel part of the team as such. I'll have to go have a mooch around as you say and see what I can see.