In many sports, the game is won and lost long before the first whistle is blown, before the fans take their seats, and in many cases, before the season even begins. And no, if you are wondering, sports are not fixed (we hope). Instead, they favour the best-trained, best-resourced and best-staffed teams.
A common refrain amongst modern-day sporting pundits is that tech-geeks, suits, bean counters and analysts are wielding more significant influence over what transpires on the track than
Take the true story of Moneyball, for example, where the Oakland Athletics manager forsook conventional baseball wisdom in place of rigorous sabermetric analysis that informed everything about the operation of the team; from players, it recruited down to
In the world of Formula 1, this concept rings even more accurate. So much so that the best tech geeks, suits, bean counters and analysts are almost as sought after as the top drivers.
This is because it is not simply the driver alone but a collaborative team effort that is the most significant contributor to success.
A team of experts in their field undertake the critical work to ensure the car is fast, the team is profitable, and the driver has everything they need to succeed on the track.
so who are these faceless tech-geeks, suits, bean counters, and analysts? And how do they take a car from the garage to the chequered flag?
1. mechanical engineer
Know what angle your rear wing needs to sit at to achieve minimal drag whilst negotiating a chicane?
A team’s mechanical engineer does and works throughout the year modelling faster bodies that shave milliseconds off lap times through aerodynamics.
2. accountant
Not required at the racetrack but pivotal in managing a team’s finances. A few bad deals or misplaced zeros can mean the difference between a well-resourced team and a bankrupt team that can’t finish off the season.
3. data analyst
Fans are interested in who won the race or who got the pole position. Data analysts are interested in off-season lap times where fuel levels sit below 65 per cent during wet weather… that and every other conceivable race permutation.
He or she will crunch these numbers and condense them into set directives for the team principals to implement. Success lies in the data… it’s just a matter of interpreting it faster and clearer than your rivals.
4. sales manager
The only thing worse for a team than having no sponsors is having the wrong sponsors.
Getting leading and like-minded brands on board is vital to the success and survival of a team. This is the remit of the sales manager.
This extends way beyond dollars and cents. Such as what markets can a brand give a team exposure too, what products can they tie in and what events can be held together.
5. executive assistant
With so much international travel, Formula 1 Racing is a logistical challenge almost like no other.
Managing flight and testing schedules, media appearances and paperwork are all keys to ensuring a team’s journey from home to pole position is a smooth one.
6. welder fitter
Because Formula 1 cars are built mainly by hand, they resemble works of art more than conventional vehicles. Welder Fitters are front and centre in the building process and have their hands on each component attached to these high-performance vehicles. Skilled and steady hands are a must, along with detailed knowledge of chassis and engines.
If these team members do their job correctly, a driver can step into their vehicle, content with the knowledge his car is faster, his race plan sounder and his pit-crew superior to the rest of the field. It’s a good feeling.
Click here to see job opportunities in Australia in engineering, accounting, IT, sales, admin, and welder fitting.
Randstad is proud to be the Official Partner of Williams Martini Racing since 2006, as one of the world’s leading recruitment & HR services specialists. Passionate about matching people with organisations that will develop their potential and matching organisations with people that will take their business to the next level, Randstad aims to shape the world of work for jobseekers, employees, employers and the wider community.
For further information on Randstad and the 6 careers that drive Formula One, visit www.randstad.com.au
This blog is the first of our Formula One-themed series connecting HR, innovation and business. Be sure to check in again soon.
