What type of engineering to be a aerodynamist?

[miqi23]

The only way you will ever get started in F1 aerodynamics is through the Junior Aero position. Period. The only way to get a Junior Aero position is to have a good degree in Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent (Mech Eng really doesn't have enough practical fluids in it). Most of my department are from Imperial College, Southampton and Cambridge, as I said before.

Yes, the junior position is most likely the "night shift" position running the tunnel but this is the only way in. Granted, you can start on the computational side of things and become a Junior CFD which doesn't involve tunnel running - instead you'll just be a mesh monkey.

Edit: you can have a multitude of masters, phds, research grants, etc etc into F1 related aero topics. You can be Dr. of this and of that, be an expert in unsteady flows or whatever. But unless you have previous F1 aero experience, you still have to start as a Junior.

Right, never mind the degrees or what ever. How about you contributing to some aero topics here and help enlighten some of the lads ? You should be good after all you are from one of the top Universities and should know better! right?

[SLC]

I don't want to contribute to any Aero discussion because I am not allowed to - there is a reason why I get paid a salary from my team - to keep my Aero knowledge within the department

[SLC]

That statment I belive not to be entirly correct. If you are an expert in the field of aero and have experiance in other formulas you can get a job above junior in f1, the experiance doesn't need to be f1 experiance just motorsport.... It's been done.

You may not need to do nightshifts, but you will still come in as a Junior. If you have loads of Aero motorsport experience you will most likely progress through the ranks more quickly. However, due to the unique nature of F1 aerodynamics and the constant development schedule there is nothing else quite like it, and you do not come into a department at a more senior level unless you have many years of F1 experience behind you.

[miqi23]

I don't want to contribute to any Aero discussion because I am not allowed to - there is a reason why I get paid a salary from my team - to keep my Aero knowledge within the department

I am talking about the aero topics here not whats going on in your department. You can keep that underwraps anyway, how about a take on that multiplane topic these lads are talking about? thats something teams are not doing anyway so it should be alright. Unless you are simply being a political figure here.

[AeroGT3]

Miki, I agree.

There are a few people parading around as F1 engineers, who are quick to comment so long that it doesn't involve any engineering. Maybe they really are who they claim, but a 12 year old could make the same quality posts from a technical standpoint . . .

Really, I doubt giving an opinion about a biplane violates a contract.

[SLC]

Miki, I agree.

There are a few people parading around as F1 engineers, who are quick to comment so long that it doesn't involve any engineering. Maybe they really are who they claim, but a 12 year old could make the same quality posts from a technical standpoint . . .

Really, I doubt giving an opinion about a biplane violates a contract.

That's completely true and I don't blame you for being sceptical. Talking about a biplane doesn't violate my contract as such, but we've been specifically told not to publically discuss any F1 related aerodynamics details. Out of my own personal interest in the matter I would love to partake in technical discussions, but alas, I cannot.

edit: If a moderator wanted to he/she could do a DNS lookup on the IP address associated with this post and confirm that what I say is true. I would of course ask that the moderator in question not reveal to the forum my details.

[miqi23]

Surely you are enjoying turning down every one's request. Fair enough, one things for sure, you are a Junior and had been desperate to get that position.

I qualify as a mesh monkey according to your statement, however I try to contribute when ever I can and never whine about my contract violation since its common sense. Indeed, I wont discuss best practices in mesh generation used by us, however would be more than happy to contribute.

After all every one is different.

[Carlos]

Everyone, every company and workplace situation is different. I've worked in situations where other employees would use any tiny infraction they could discover to their advantage. Contracts can be ridiculously restrictive and office politics extremely destructive. It doesn't matter if you work in motorsport, retail, marketing or whatever.

[AeroGT3]

Surely you are enjoying turning down every one's request. Fair enough, one things for sure, you are a Junior and had been desperate to get that position.

I qualify as a mesh monkey according to your statement, however I try to contribute when ever I can and never whine about my contract violation since its common sense. Indeed, I wont discuss best practices in mesh generation used by us, however would be more than happy to contribute.

After all every one is different.

Wow, Miqi, I had no idea you did mesh generation for an F1 team! It makes some of your case runs even more appreciated given the existence of your contract. It also shows you to be the only "claimed" F1 engineer on here to have proven their knowledge.

SLC: the biplane wing is not purely F1 related! It has applications to almost every form of open wheel, and karting too.

And I wouldn't bash a "mesh monkey." Meshing can be quite fun and I personally enjoy it. It's more intellectually stimulating then sitting in on a test. I opted not to accept a position as a "Graduate Aerodynamicist" because it was essentially slaving away sitting in on tests during the evening shift. If that's the most interesting F1 aero job I can get, then I'll stay in school for a higher degree (1 more year) and wait for a position as a lowly "mesh monkey."

[PNSD]

karting? aero?

mate. leave it out lol

seriously... aero and karting doesnt go too well, anything that adds wieght is ---.

[Kass]

anyone knows any good universities in france?