The right formula
With near endless budgets and the constant pursuit of faster lap times, is the adrenalin fuelled world of Formula 1 the ultimate dream job for automotive engineers? We spoke to Katriona Jones, a composite design engineer for Williams to find out more.
Name: Katriona Jones
Age: 25
College/University background: Oxford Brookes University
Course: Automotive Engineering
From the outside, Formula 1 looks like one of the most glamorous sports in the world. Does it feel glamorous from the inside?
No, not at all! We have black-tie ‘dos’ at Christmas, but that's about as glamorous as it gets. We try to have social events (curry nights, trips to the pub, etc.) as often as possible as it does improve the working relationships between people, but they're certainly not glamorous occasions.
Are there many women involved in Formula 1 Engineering? Is it changing?
There are a lot more women involved now than there was when I first started working about seven years ago. It is still very much a male dominated environment, and I think any women wanting to work in F1 shouldn't expect that to change any time soon. However, I never encountered any problems being the only girl. If anything, I think it sometimes worked to my advantage. Since I was a bit of a novelty, people would go out of their way to speak to me, to help me and to get to know me.
What was the biggest shock when you left college and started working in the ‘real world’?
The biggest shock was probably the hours. In F1, the hours can be very long, especially during the winter as preparation for the new season comes to a climax.
What’s the best thing about the job you do?
The thing I like most about what I do is the speed with which designs can be realised. From conception to having a component on a car in a race can take just a matter of weeks. There are very few other engineering industries that can boast those sorts of scheduling possibilities.
Do you think that working with ‘civilian’ (i.e. road) cars would be boring by comparison?
I think working on road cars would offer different challenges. Cost reduction and design consideration for mass production would be of greater importance. In F1, strength, and weight are generally more important. The production departments in F1 achieve amazing results from very complex designs that just would not be feasible in a mass production environment.
Is there anything coming out of Formula 1 that could have repercussions in the wider world?
Personally, I think one of the most exciting technologies currently used in F1 is the use of rapid prototyping. Technologies such as stereolithography and selective laser sintering have evolved a great deal in recent years. Once the materials for these processes are improved, the rapid manufacturing of metal or composite semi-structural components is a real possibility.
Also, the use of 3D printing has wider potential for the domestic market. In the future, it could be possible to go online at home and download a file onto your 3D printer which could build you a new mobile phone case, toys, cutlery etc... Also, with the development of CAD packages, it could be possible for children to design their own toys and then manufacture them using the 3D printer. This would no doubt lead to a greater level of engineering/design skill in future generations.
Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time?
I hope to still be working in F1 in 10 years time, possibly focussing more on the research and development side of the industry. Also, developing new materials and processes that can reduce the weight of components and the lead time required to produce them.
Date Published: September 08, 2009
