Student needing help

[rc81_fcp]

Hi.
I'm portuguese and I am actually on the 12th grade (one year before going into a university)
I would like to be an aerodynamicist for F1. What university course (copied from google translate I don't know how to say it in english) should I take? I saw that many relevant aerodynamicist, such as Adrian Newey, graduated in Aeronautics. Is this the best way? Or there are courses specifically for racing aerodynamics?
Thanks and sorry for the bad english.

[PlatinumZealot]

Yeah it's aeronautical Engineering..

I was thinking of doing it as a graduate degree.. but it is too much mathematical weirdness for me...

[rc81_fcp]

n sminkle, is aeronautical engineering really the best way to get aerodynamics knowledge? Because in Portugal we only have 1 university with that course, and it is far from where I live...
I would like to hear the opinion of the aerodynamicists over here, tell me how do you graduate, what course did you take?

[kalyangoparaju]

Hey buddy, i am doing my bachelors in aero engg and believe me its the only thing which can teach you what aerodynamics is all about... best of luck....

[Kester]

He's right, I'm on a motorsport engineering course, and whilst we touch on aerodynamics, we literally only touch on it to get an understanding. It'd never be enough to give me good enough knowledge to actually take up a job in aerodynamics.

[SLC]

If you want a job as an Aero or as a CFD in an F1 team you're going to need a Masters (or higher, ie, PhD) in Aeronautical Engineering (though if you are lucky Mechanical will also do).

Oh and fluency in English is also a requirement!

[PlatinumZealot]

It's all about something called finite element and some fluid mechanics and heat/mass transfer

Trust me you might not like it so much at first but when you get to the simulation part it's very nice..

I'm just a B.Sc in mechanical so i am exposed to the equations and programs and stuff.. but my understanding is relatively small at best..

[greene]

I am also in the similar situation. I was aiming to become an aerodynamicist in a F1 team so I came all the way from Asia to Europe to study Aeronautical Engineering in top universities. After I got my master's degrees, I send a lot of applications all of which turned out to be rejections eventually. I feel hopeless and consider to give up. Sigh!

[Jersey Tom]

If you're in high school still, I'd suggest setting yourself up for broad education. Everyone says they want to do racing, work for a team, whatever... it's a lot of work and potentially brutal travel schedule. A lot more so than most people realize. You really don't get an appreciation for it until you do it. And even if you're sure its what you want to do when you're 18, your perspective can change a lot in 4-5 years.

Do Formula SAE / Formula Student while you're in school.. and/or intern with a small local race team if possible. Get a feel for it. As an upperclassman you can get some more experience with aero-related classes and CFD software.. or DAQ. Decide then.

Having practical work experience is critical, particularly race-related. I couldn't imagine direct hiring into F1 or any top-tier motorsport without previous experience at a lower level and having really proven yourself.