For engineering-based roles within F1, there are two traditional routes which you can choose to take. The base line for each of these routes is good grades at GCSE. This includes in particular maths and sciences, as well as design and technology or mechanics if you have such options. This solid foundation will provide the opportunity to go on to study an Apprenticeship, alongside an HNC, or HND qualification, or alternatively A Levels. It will also help you to determine how successful you might be at completing these key subjects at a higher level of education. At Williams Racing, we currently only offer Apprenticeships at a Level 3, therefore if you have already achieved a Level 3 or above in engineering or similar motorsport subject, you will be unable to apply for our apprenticeships. That doesn’t mean you can never work at Williams! There are lots of other routes and doing an apprenticeship elsewhere, building up your experience and then starting your career at Williams later is also a route that many take!

As a motorsport engineer you could work in either design, testing, production or racing. Your duties in the first three areas would include: assessing new ideas by looking at performance, strength, costs and safety designing prototypes with computer-aided design (CAD) software testing components and bodywork to increase a vehicle's performance testing working models on the track before vehicles go into full production building production models and carrying out quality control checks 'finishing' vehicles with the team's colours and sponsorship logos.

At race meetings, your duties would include: setting up the cars to suit track and weather conditions monitoring engine speed and other data during races fine tuning the car and sending technical instructions to the driver carrying out ‘after-tests’ on the cars after races to look for signs of damage.

After races, you would attend debriefings with the race team to look at what worked well and where to make improvements.

We would advise you first and foremost to give your best at school, whichever career path you chose. It’s also important to learn, particularly for a career in F1, that most often success comes from sustained hard work as opposed to occasional displays of brilliance. Specifically though I would advise you follow the numerate disciplines for your GCSEs and A-Levels i.e. Maths (essential), Physics, Chemistry, Design & Technology, IT etc. You should eventually aim to do a degree in an engineering discipline i.e. Mechanical, Automotive or Aeronautical. As for choice of university or college, with Cambridge, Imperial, Brunel, Bristol, Loughborough and Southampton being popular high-end choices for F1 hopefuls. When you get to thinking about these decisions, it can help to look at F1 careers sites and see what roles they are currently recruiting for and what experience and qualifications they are looking for in the roles you would like to one day be doing. This can really help you map out your journey to get where you want to be! It is also important to get practical experience, so try to use your vacations or gap year etc. to get some. This could be paid employment in a garage or workshop or even voluntary labour for a junior race team. When you get to university joining the Formula Student Team is a great way of getting really good hands-on experience, as well as being a lot of fun and meeting likeminded people.

For those that are more practically minded an Apprenticeship is a possible route as an alternative to A Levels and Degrees. Such opportunities are limited throughout the Motorsport industry, as well as throughout the engineering industry in general. Apprenticeships in the broader engineering industry are also limited, but this is a broader route you could consider before moving to the Motorsport industry. The better grades you have, the more opportunities will open up to you. In addition to good grades at school, such initiatives as F1 in Schools and Formula schools, relevant work experience, part time jobs or related hobbies such as mechanics or karting will also help your chances of securing such limited opportunities. The more you can demonstrate your determination and passion to be involved in Motorsport through the contents of your CV, the more possibility you will have of securing an Apprenticeship with an employer who can help you achieve your goal. At Williams, we receive 100’s of CVs or letters each year about Apprenticeships, and we are only able to commit to approximately 3/4 places each year. This demonstrates how distinctive your application or letter needs to be to stand out.

Our work experience is aimed at year 10-13 students (age 14-18), providing a unique view of how an F1 team runs. The aim of the week is to help students understand the various jobs and routes in F1 and provide them with the tools to set on the pathway to get there. You do not need to be a UK resident; however, you will need to fund your own travel and accommodation during the week.

Unfortunately, at this time we can only offer work experience to students in year 10-13 (aged 14-18).

Unfortunately, this isn’t something that the team is able to support at this time.

We do sometimes offer summer placements for university students. These will be posted on our careers site as and when they are available in each department. We cannot accept applications not through our official application site.

Becoming an F1 driver means being in the top 20 people in the world at what you do. It requires years of hard work and dedication and most of those you see on the grid will have started from a very young age. Being involved in karting and the single seater support series afterwards gets you noticed in the industry if you perform well. It’s not just about racing though. To become a top driver, you need to understand your car, spend hours looking at videos of others, help your engineers understand how it feels to drive the car, understand what will help them, helps you! Another important factor is surrounding yourself with the right people. Motorsport is a tough world and to have those you can trust close will help you navigate difficult times throughout your career.