We’ve all seen an extraordinary pitstop or critical tyre decision shape a driver’s raceday performance. But what goes into making those decisions, and how do the crew make the most of every tyre choice?
Our tyre specialists – from engineers to tyre performance experts and technicians – delve into their world, and how they drive performance each race weekend.
What are tyre jobs in F1?
Tyre jobs in F1 cover a wide range of roles, from modelling engineers who predict behaviour under pressure to trackside technicians who monitor temperatures and manage pit stops. Together, our tyre teams make sure the car stays within the optimal performance window.
For Jack Purcell, Head of Tyre Performance:
“Tyres are one of the most critical components of a Formula 1 car. We’re talking tenths of a second if we’re plus or minus a few degrees with tyre temperature on a single lap in qualifying, but that can carry through into multiple seconds of race time if we’re operating out the window.”
What does a tyre engineer do in Formula 1?
A Formula 1 tyre engineer plays a pivotal role in every race weekend. Before cars arrive at a circuit, they analyse data, run simulations, and study previous races to predict how the tyres will perform. Using that information, they help decide which compounds to run and when it’s time to push on.
During sessions, tyre engineers monitor live telemetry from the garage. They then adjust pressures, track temperatures, and make strategy calls on the fly. It’s an F1 tyre role that combines technical insight with calm decision-making under pressure. Every small choice can have a huge influence on the result.
As Jack Purcell went on to explain:
“A lot of our work is about manufacturing those fractions of a second with the driver and with the race engineers to optimise the overall car performance. We use free practice to determine the finer details of how the tyres are going to behave. The range of compounds we’ve got differs from event to event, whether we want to be on the hard or the medium compound to start and what the degradation will be like in the race.”
How does tyre performance impact an F1 car?
Formula 1 tyres are some of the most sophisticated components in sport. Each compound, soft, medium, or hard, reacts differently depending on factors like temperature, surface roughness, and as well as being impacted by pressure.
At Williams, the tyre team uses advanced tools to build a complete picture of the track. That insight shapes setup decisions and pit-stop strategy. It’s a process built on excellence and innovation, values that flow through the professionals in our Formula 1 tyre jobs.
Jack shared an example:
“Trackside, the first thing we do is scan and walk the track. We take a laser texture scanner with us around the track which allows us to measure the texture and roughness of the surface. That has a big impact on tyre performance as it can change the entire properties of it.”
“Our final prep is to have a meeting with the drivers where we talk them through how we want them to approach laps in qualifying, the types of temperatures we’re expecting, and we’ll give them a briefing on which corners are the right ones to save in.”
What do tyre technicians do in Formula 1?
While engineers analyse data and strategy, F1 tyre technicians make sure everything is ready when it counts. They prepare, heat, and manage up to 20 sets of tyres per car across a weekend, ensuring each one meets stringent Pirelli and FIA standards for pressure and temperature.
In the heat of a race, technicians’ ability to coordinate with mechanics and engineers is vital. A smooth pit stop depends on their timing and focus. Every millisecond saved keeps the car in the fight, and every decision contributes to the team’s wider success.
Andy Holborn, Tyre Technician, explained:
“If we have problems with tyres, ultimately it will cost us time. On a race weekend, we have 20 sets of tyres per car. We use a TPMS that tells you the pressure of the air within the tyres, which is crucial as Pirelli prescribes minimum running pressure.
“During a session, whether it be free practice, qualifying, or a race, it’s my job to make sure that the tyres are all above the minimum. When it comes to a pit stop, the guys will take a set of tyres off the rack and it's my job to replace that, so we always have a feed of tyres.”
What qualifications do you need for F1 tyre jobs?
Tyre jobs in Formula 1 require a strong grounding in engineering and analysis. Most tyre engineers have a degree in mechanical, automotive, or aerospace engineering, or in physics or tribology. Programming and data-processing skills in Python, MATLAB, or C++ are also invaluable for developing tyre models and simulation tools.
Hands-on experience makes a difference, too. Many engineers and technicians start in junior roles, gaining experience alongside experienced team members. At Williams, aspiring professionals can also learn through our early careers programme under the tutelage of leading engineers in a high-performance environment.
How does tyre simulation work at Williams?
Those on track learnings are ultimately fed back to our Tyre Science Group – who use the data to inform our advanced simulation models and predict how tyres will behave under specific loads and temperatures.
This work ultimately helps the trackside team make faster, more confident decisions when the pressure is on. The better the correlation between virtual and real performance, the more effectively the team can plan race strategy and setup. It’s a perfect example of how innovation drives performance at Williams.
Jack Purcell summed this up:
“There’s a lot of data to go through on our side. We get some interesting insights from what we gather on a race weekend, and we use them to develop our tools and models for future races.”
Ready to create the winning formula?
Tyre jobs are fuelling our ambitions to get back to the top of Formula 1. If you’re ready to make real impact, this is your chance. Explore our F1 tyre jobs and wider engineering jobs to shape the future of our team today, or join our talent community to stay up to date.
