Post anything that doesn't belong in any other forum, including gaming and topics unrelated to motorsport. Site specific discussions should go in the site feedback forum.
Hi there I'm finishing my Mechanical Engineering BEng degree next year and I'm considering doing a master in aerodynamics. It seems that only Southampton and Cranfield have aero course? Does anyone here knows whether these are good choices if I wanna get into f1 aero?
And if I apply for other uni, it must be aerospace eng. I'm choosing... quite confused on how to write the personal statement - is it ok to talk about enthusiasm on motorsport aero when applying for an aerospace course? or should I lie..
Thanks ahead for help..
go to brookes and do their motorsport engineering program. Not pure aero, but if you're dead set on motorsport, thats the best place to go. I would relax the pure-aero requirement.
First question to ask is - what are you trying to achieve? Are you trying to come out of school as a good engineer, valuable and with a good chance of getting a job? Or are you trying to learn aerodynamics? Or are you trying to work in racing?
If you're interested in aero, a MSc in Aerospace Engineering is where it's at. Plenty of Aerospace Engineers find their way into motorsports. If you want to be a good valuable engineer don't put the blinders on and focus just on one thing - Mech Eng background is good for this. If you're interested in racing - have you worked in motorsport before at a lower level and established yourself? Are you comfortable with the hours, demands, and pay (or lack thereof)? If you haven't worked in racing before, do you think a Masters degree will be enough on its own to land and hold a job at the top level of open wheel racing? If for whatever reason that falls through, what's the backup plan?
Bottom line is everyone's story is unique. If you're good, you're good - and you'll be able to make your path regardless of career. If for whatever reason you're hell bent on working in F1 - you don't need to be an aero engineer to do so. Ross Brawn started as a machinist and mechanic and I'd say he's done OK for himself.
Grip is a four letter word. All opinions are my own and not those of current or previous employers.
Just thought I'd add you dont need a degree to get a job in motorsport/f1
yes these days design departments, aero, drawing office, engineering etcetc will want a degree but manufacturing departments qualifications dont count for anything really its all down to whether you can do the job, so you have pattern shop, composites (laminating and fitting) machine shop, paint shop. These are departments which except for paint employ a good chunk of the total fatory staff.
so even those of us who arent so clever are able to work at a f1 team
Aero options in the UK would include Imperial and Cambridge (I think), and Bristol.
I doubt a general motorsports MSc would get you enough aero to make a difference to getting into an F1 team as an aerodynamicist. The two aerodynamicists I know who have worked in F1 had aero degrees, not motorsports MScs . To be honest as a mechanical Engineer and an occasional interviewer, I'm not widly keen on these scattergun vocational degrees, but they are a good way of getting some contacts and work experience.
Thanks for all the suggestion up there.
I'm generally interested in aero and don't really want to work in other sectors of motorsport. However, it's F1 that made me interested in aero initially. So yeah I don't really mind doing aero in other industries, but motorsport is definitely an area i'd like to step into.
Basically I'd prefer a uni with better connection with f1. I'm kinda leaning to Cranfield at the moment - their aero modules looks comprehensive. I've no experience in motorsport at the moment, I know it's hard but I'd give it a try.
