Red Bull Motorsports
Motoring
Who are the people behind the paddock at Formula 1 races?
Who are the busybodies working in the shadows of the F1 paddocks as the drivers shine on the track? And what exactly are they doing? Let's find out...
There are dozens of them – 80 at the most per team – bustling about in the paddocks at each F1 Grand Prix. But who are they and what are they doing? Here's a brief overview of the team that is relatively unknown, yet essential to every F1 race.
Team manager
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in 2019
© Red Bull Racing
Let's start with the one who leads the group: the team manager. The main objective for this individual is to manage the logistics of the staff and delegate downwards, ensuring that every person within the team has what they need in order to do their work. They're also communicating with the drivers themselves.
Red Bull's Team Principal is Christian Horner, an iconic name in the motorsport who has overseen four World Constructors' titles and five World Drivers' titles since taking the job in 2005. His counterpart Toto Wolff, team boss of championship rivals Mercedes, is another influential figure regularly seen trackside.
Almost as important as the drivers themselves, the team manager is notably responsible for keeping an eye on ensuring the FIA regulations and F1 sporting code are impeccably respected.
Engineers
Engineers, as you might well expect, occupy one of the most prestigious positions on the circuit, and their task is also one of the most varied. But what do they do?
First, the "performance" engineers are responsible for all the elements related to the chassis and its various settings and therefore for predicting its performance.
Then come the "control" engineers, who ensure the gearbox's operation, the assisted braking map and departures, and monitor engine overspeeding.
As their name suggests, "aerodynamic" engineers take care of all the aerodynamic aspects of the single-seater. From the circuits, they transmit data collected to team bosses and the design factory, making sure that everything runs according to the plan.
The “engine” engineers, meanwhile, are in charge of all the parameters linked to the performance and safety of the F1 power unit. Responsible for the preparation and adjustments of the powertrains, they consider driver feedback on the in-car experience and also manage the zones of deployment for electrical energy.
The "strategy" engineers are responsible for evaluating the performance of the team, but also that of the adversaries. They then classify them according to their rhythm. Before departure, they study the various possible scenarios and anticipate the reactions to be had.
Related
Max Verstappen and his helmet for 2022
© Red Bull Racing
Technical director
The technical director is responsible for coordinating all of the engineering work above and must ensure that every element of the single-seater works in perfect harmony, from chassis to engine to tyres.
Chief mechanic
The chief mechanic supervises the (huge) team of mechanics on the circuits. The person must ensure that all the specifications of the car are correct, solving various mechanical problems and making sure all settings of the car are in accordance with the highest standards.
Mechanics
A driver without a paddock would be nothing. The mechanics working in the shadows must in particular ensure that the driver has a high-performance, reliable and, above all, safe car. During pit stops, they carry out the usual checks, fill the car with fuel, and break the world record for tyre change speed. As seen in the video below from Red Bull Racing, they are sometimes even able to do it with zero gravity.
2 min
Zero-G pit stop
Find out what happened when the mechanics tried to do a pit stop at zero gravity on a cosmonaut training plane.
Data scientist
The data scientist analyses a whole host of data transmitted by the car in real-time (engine performance, aerodynamic efficiency, oil pressure, tyre grip, brake wear, etc.) This data ensures that all the technical teams, and the driver in the cockpit, know exactly what is happening on the track at all times. Another essential role for a Formula 1 team is to develop in sync with technological advances.
This list is obviously far from exhaustive and only concerns the professions of the people physically present at the circuits. There are many other employees outside the circuits. In total, more than 800 people worked for the Red Bull Racing team last year.
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