Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Meet the people behind the paddock at Formula One races
The paddocks are the beating heart of F1 teams during race weekends. Find out who works in them and how they influence success out on the track.
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The Formula One paddock is the operational hub of each team during a race weekend. Housing the garage, engineering stations and strategy units, this is where car setup, performance analysis and regulatory compliance are all managed.
Working in the background behind every driver is a huge team of specialised technical and operational experts, who all play a major role in shaping race performance and championship outcomes. This article explains the key roles within an F1 team and how they contribute to success on the track.
01
Who works in a Formula One paddock?
- Team Principal – Leads team operations and FIA compliance
- Head of Sporting – Focuses on the operational, regulatory and day-to-day execution of race weekends
- Engineers – Manage car setup, performance and telemetry analysis
- Technical Director – Oversees car development and aerodynamic strategy
- Chief Mechanic – Supervises garage operations and pit-lane readiness
- Mechanics – Build, maintain and repair the car
- Data Scientist – Analyses race simulations and performance data
02
What does a Formula One Team Principal do?
An F1 team principal serves as the chief executive and ultimate authority over daily operations, strategy and performance. They play a key role in the success of the team by connecting engineers, drivers and owners to keep the team unified and accountable for both on-track results and off-track management.
Team principal Laurent Mekies celebrates with the trophy in Qatar
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Main responsibilities:
- Strategic leadership: Setting the team's direction, overseeing budgets within the cost cap and making key technical and operational decisions.
- Operational management: Supervising all technical and sporting activities at the factory, as well as race weekend operations.
- Personnel management: Building a winning culture, managing teams and recruiting essential technical and operational staff.
- Performance and results: Making final strategic decisions, owning team outcomes and overseeing the team's performance at the track.
- Public representation: Serving as the team's main contact with media, F1 management (FOM) and the FIA.
Who is the Team Principal for Oracle Red Bull Racing?
After previously leading the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Team, Laurent Mekies became the CEO and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in July 2025. Having developed an early passion for Formula 1 after attending the 1988 French Grand Prix with his father, he was inspired to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and motorsport. Mekies is known for his calm approach, strong technical background and extensive strategical expertise.
03
What does a Formula One Head of Sporting do?
The Head of Sporting is a senior F1 team leader responsible for trackside operations, regulatory compliance and race-weekend logistics. Acting as the main liaison with the FIA and stewards, they oversee pit crew performance and ensure sporting regulations are followed, focusing on operational execution as opposed to the Team Principal’s broader strategic role.
Main responsibilities:
- FIA liaison: Acts as the primary FIA and FOM sporting liaison, Sporting Advisory Committee attendee and handles interactions with stewards regarding protests or appeals.
- Sporting regulation support: Providing real-time, in-race decisions regarding sporting regulations for engineering and operational groups.
- Trackside operations: Overseeing the entire race team's operation, including the pit crew and garage activities.
- Logistics and personnel: Managing the logistics of race weekends, including flights, hotels and freight, as well as managing personnel.
Who is the Head of Sporting at Oracle Red Bull Racing?
Stephen Knowles is a senior engineer and, since 2025, has been Acting Head of Sporting at Oracle Red Bull Racing, alongside his role as Senior Race Strategy Engineer. A University of Bath graduate, he spent almost a decade at Mercedes, rising to Pitwall Strategist before joining Red Bull in 2021.
Stephen Knowles joined Red Bull in 2021
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
04
What do Formula One engineers do?
F1 engineers are crucial to success on the track, designing, building and optimising cutting-edge race cars that define performance, safety and reliability. They analyse live telemetry to make rapid strategic decisions, manage tyre wear and fine-tune aerodynamics for every millisecond of advantage.
Main responsibilities:
- Performance engineer: Uses simulation and sensor data to enhance vehicle dynamics and improve performance.
- Control engineer: Develops and calibrates vehicle software (power unit, brakes, DRS), ensuring FIA compliance, optimising performance and troubleshooting on-track issues.
- Aerodynamics engineer: Designs components to boost downforce and reduce drag using CFD and wind tunnel testing.
- Engine engineer: Enhances hybrid engine performance, reliability and fuel efficiency through data analysis, simulation and trackside monitoring.
- Strategy engineer: Analyses data to make real-time decisions on pit stops, tyre strategy and overtaking opportunities.
Gianpiero Lambiase is Head of Race Engineering at Oracle Red Bull Racing
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Who is the Head of Race Engineering at Oracle Red Bull Racing?
GianPiero Lambiase has spent 20 years as a trackside engineer in Formula One. After earning a Mechanical Engineering degree from University College London, he began in F1 as a data (performance) engineer at Jordan. Within five years, he became a race engineer, working with multiple drivers, including Sergio Pérez at Force India in 2014, before moving to Red Bull Racing at the end of that season.
05
What does a Formula One Technical Director do?
By orchestrating engineering, design and production teams to work seamlessly as a competitive unit, the technical director ensures the car is safe, legal and fast while managing the complexity of modern F1 technology.
Main responsibilities:
- Strategic direction: Makes decisions on design concepts for the car, including aerodynamics, chassis and engine integration.
- Regulatory compliance: Ensures the vehicle fully complies with all FIA regulations and safety requirements.
- Budgetary oversight: Managing budgets, resources and personnel to optimise performance while staying within F1’s financial regulations.
- Decision-making: Leading the engineering department, coordinating specialist teams and fostering innovation across all technical areas.
- Trackside integration: Acting as the link between factory and track operations, contributing to engineering meetings to analyse performance data and optimise car setup.
Technical director Pierre Waché in the pit lane during testing
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Who is the Technical Director at Oracle Red Bull Racing?
Technical Director Pierre Waché has been a member of Red Bull Racing’s senior technical group since joining in 2013. Holding a PhD in fluid mechanics, he entered Formula One in 2001 when Michelin recruited him to research the interaction between track surfaces and tyre rubber. He later became a project leader at Michelin, overseeing adherence and simulation for F1.
06
What does a Formula One Chief Mechanic do?
A chief mechanic ensures peak performance, reliability and safety by managing the trackside technical team. They oversee assembly, maintenance and rapid repairs, impacting pit-stop efficiency and preventing costly technical errors.
Main responsibilities:
- Car build: Manages assembly, maintenance and teardown of F1 cars for testing and races, ensuring full compliance with strict technical regulations.
- Team leadership: Supervising all race team mechanics and technicians, including training pit-stop crews and implementing new techniques.
- Engineering coordination: Works with senior engineers to apply setup changes and oversee repairs during testing and races.
- Logistics: Manages pit equipment transport and maintenance, coordinating updates with factory teams.
Who is the chief mechanic at Oracle Red Bull Racing?
In 2026, the team shuffled roles, with Jon Caller now serving as chief mechanic for Max Verstappen, while Mike Payne has been appointed as a chief mechanic for Isack Hadjar.
07
What do Formula One mechanics do?
Mechanics are essential to an F1 team's success, building, maintaining and repairing cars under intense pressure. They execute highly choreographed pit-stops in under three seconds, ensure safety and reliability through meticulous maintenance and perform rapid repairs to keep cars competitive on the track.
Mechanics prepare to work their magic in the Bahrain pit lane
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Main responsibilities:
- Assembly and maintenance: Building the car from scratch at the factory and maintaining components like suspensions, gearboxes and bodywork.
- Race preparation: Setting up the car for specific track conditions, adjusting to driver feedback and preparing for sessions.
- Technical troubleshooting: Diagnosing and resolving mechanical issues quickly to minimise downtime.
- Pit-stops: Changing tyres and adjusting the front wing in 2–3 seconds, with roles like wheel gunners, jack operators and tyre carriers.
08
What does a Formula One data scientist do?
F1 data scientists turn 1.5 TB of real-time data from 300+ sensors into actionable insights, boosting car performance, strategy calls and engineering efficiency, enabling rapid, data-driven decisions on aerodynamics, tyre wear and pit stops.
Main responsibilities:
- Performance optimisation: Leveraging telemetry and CFD/wind tunnel simulations to enhance downforce and minimise drag.
- Live race support: Monitoring real-time telemetry to guide decisions on fuel, tyres and competitor strategy.
- Collaboration: Partners with aerodynamics, design and race engineers to turn complex data into actionable car setup and strategy improvements.
- Reporting: Creates dashboards to help engineers analyse data and guide performance and strategy decisions.
09
Key roles in a Formula One team
Role
Primary responsibility
Works closely with
Team principal
Leads team operations, ensures FIA compliance and oversees strategic direction.
Drivers, FIA, technical director.
Technical director
Oversees car design and aerodynamic development.
Engineering departments.
Race engineer
Direct driver communication and race-day setup decisions.
Driver and performance engineers.
Performance engineer
Analyses telemetry and car setup data.
Race engineer and data analysts.
Chief mechanic
Manages mechanics and garage workflow.
Pit crew and engineers.
Data Scientist
Runs simulations and performance modelling.
Strategy and engineering teams.
F1 race garages are always a hive of calculated activity
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
10
Frequently asked questions
What is the role of a Formula One team?
Each team, or constructor, is responsible for designing, building and operating its own car and complying with FIA regulations.
Who holds the most power in a Formula One team?
While team principals have the ultimate organisational authority, technical leaders or senior engineers often have the greatest influence on the car's on-track performance.
How many engineers work in an F1 team?
Around 15–20 engineers travel to each race to manage the cars on-site. The core team includes specialists in race, performance, aerodynamics, mechanical, design and power unit engineering.
What's the difference between a race engineer and a performance engineer?
In F1, the race engineer leads communication with the driver and manages the race weekend, car setup and crew, while the performance engineer analyses data and simulations to optimise lap times and car performance.
Is the Constructors' Championship more important than the Drivers' Championship?
The Drivers' Championship holds more prestige and public recognition, but the Constructors' Championship is crucial for teams, influencing prize money and funding for engineering development.
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