At Atlassian Williams Racing, our mechanics are at the centre of how we create our winning formula. They work with cutting-edge technology, turning a collection of components into race-ready cars and executing speedy pitstops when the pressures ramp up.
Wondering how to become an F1 mechanic? Our mechanic team have lifted the lid on the responsibilities, skills, and qualifications that have brought them where they are today.
What does an F1 mechanic do?
F1 mechanics prepare, build, and maintain our cars before, during, and after the race weekend. In a mechanic role, you’ll be tasked with assembling the car from scratch and making critical adjustments based on real-time data and driver feedback. When the car rolls out for FP1, it’s our mechanics who have made the magic happen.
Tom Scott, one of our No.2 mechanics, gave an example of what his role looks like during the season.
“I’m responsible for the front end of the vehicle. On a race weekend, that’ll mean build preparation and maintenance of everything from the mirrors forward, like suspensions and harnesses. A typical build would be on Wednesday, with Thursday for set up, and then we’re into running FP1 and FP2 on Friday.”
Because each car is tailored to the driver, tweaks often need to be made between sessions. From seating position to steering configuration, there's no stone left unturned:
“The car is built to suit the driver down to the final millimetrer. That can be quite a big workload and means there’s a fair bit of work to do between FP1 and FP2. We also maintain our normal jobs coupled with changing the drivers over.”
What qualifications do F1 mechanics need?
Becoming an F1 mechanic isn’t a single-track road. There are several routes to get there, but most mechanics begin by picking up a qualification, such as a Level 3 Diploma, HND, or a foundation degree in motorsport engineering or automotive technology.
Technical qualifications are only one part of the equation, of course. Hands-on experience is just as important. Much like the drivers themselves, many F1 mechanics cut their teeth in Formula 2, Formula 3 or in touring cars, getting to grips with how race weekends work. Ollie Middleton, now a No.1 Mechanic on the race team, followed this path:
“My journey into the role started at the Silverstone National College of Motorsport, where I did a foundation degree. The main aspect was getting my foot in the door, and I did various work experience with touring car teams and in the junior formulas.”
At Atlassian Williams Racing, we have dedicated F1 early careers programmes to give the talent of tomorrow all the skills and experience needed to thrive in this role. From graduate schemes to apprenticeships, we offer direct routes into a career in F1. As Ollie explains, there are certain skills that can help you stand out.
“I would put perseverance as the top skill needed for an F1 mechanic. You do get knocked back a lot and you do the same thing each week, so you have to show that value of resilience. Time management, organisational skills, and communication are just as important too.”
Find out more about life on our F1 early career programmes.
What type of F1 mechanic jobs are in our team?
When the pressure ramps up, teamwork is essential. Gorka Narbarte, No.1 Mechanic on Alex Albon’s car, explained:
“On race day, it begins with getting information from my race engineer. I then inform my mechanics and technicians of the plan. We set the car up and prepare it for the session. When the session starts, it gets slightly more complex.”
“We’ll have more people around the car, so my job is to organise everybody. I have a great group of people in the team with great talent, and I need to make sure they have the right information at the right time. This means we collaborate to do the best job possible together.”
Here are some of the F1 mechanic jobs you’ll see in the garage.
- Chief mechanic: Oversees the entire car build process and leads the mechanics and technicians trackside
- No.1 mechanic: Responsible for one of our race cars throughout the weekend, from build and set up to performance and post-race checks
- No.2 mechanic: Supports the nNo.1 to get the car race-ready as well as assisting with pit stops
- Race mechanic: Provides hands-on support during race weekends, helping to configure the car and fix issues on the fly
- Tyre technician: Specialises in preparing and managing the tyres for optimum grip and longevity
- Garage technician: Manages the tools, systems, and logistics of the garage environment
What to expect in an F1 mechanic job
Working as an F1 mechanic means you make real impact on race weekend. Ollie Middleton explained what to expect in an F1 mechanic’s job.
“As a number 1 F1 mechanic, we really complement what the people do at Grove. We put the car together and if we don’t build it correctly, you lose a lot of performance. The attention to detail at trackside is where we come in.”
“My time at Williams has certainly been a journey. When I started, we were really struggling at the back of the field, but I’ve been lucky enough to be part of this slow rise that we’ve been on. It’s good to be part of it, and I’m confident that we can win in the future.”
“We get all the emotion at the end of the race, whether it’s gone to plan or not! It’s the results that keep me motivated. There are so many small wins that you can have in an F1 mechanic job. They’re things that you can’t really replicate anywhere else.”
Join us in an F1 mechanic job
There’s never been a better time to find your place at Atlassian Williams Racing. We’re proud of our heritage, but even prouder of where we’re headed. Our Formula 1 mechanic jobs give a unique opportunity to shape the future of a historic team.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to create our winning formula, we’d love to hear from you. Explore our latest F1 mechanic jobs today or join our talent community to stay up to date with our latest opportunities.
