Name: Andy Stevenson
Job Title: Team Manager, Force India F1
Qualifications: 5 ‘O’ Levels at school and then I studied mechanical engineering at college.
How did you get into F1: I worked part-time for a Formula 3 team whilst I was at college (I knew the owner’s son). I left college and went to work for Magnum Race Cars, then I was offered a job with Eddie Jordan Racing in F3. I progressed as the team moved up to F3000 and then to Formula One. I started out as a No 2 mechanic for a while before being promoted to No 1 and then I became Chief Mechanic on the test team. I was made Race Team Chief Mechanic at the start of the 2002 season and then promoted to Team Manager a couple of years later.
What does the job involve: At Force India F1 I am in charge of the day to day operation of both the race and test teams (although some larger teams would employ a separate Test Team Manager). This includes all the logistics and overseeing travel to the races and tests and liaising with the technical and production departments at the factory.
At the races I also oversee the smooth running of operations in the garage and make sure that all the necessary procedures are adhered to. I liaise with the engineers on technical matters and during the race provide them with information on the pitwall to give them an over-view of the race.
In addition, I am the main point of contact with the FIA; it’s my job to ensure that we comply with all the regulations so I have to know the rulebook inside out! I also represent the team on the Sporting Working Group, the body that devises the sporting regulations for Formula One each year with the FIA.
Most memorable bit: there are two races that stick out in my mind. Firstly the 1998 Belgian GP – after 8 years of trying Jordan finally won our first Grand Prix and to make things even better we got the 1 – 2! Damon Hill finished first and Ralf Schumacher, in my car, finished second. That was some party! The second race I will always remember is Imola 1994, when Ayrton Senna was killed.
Qualifications required: You will need some form of mechanical training; either an apprenticeship from a garage, or a mechanical engineering qualification from college. Grand Prix teams generally require previous race experience in F3 or GP2. you also need to be fit and healthy to cope with the long hours which F1 mechanics have to work.
Normal route into the job: Most Formula One mechanics started out in the junior formulae. Even with that experience, it is rare to jump straight into a job as a race mechanic on a Formula One team. You can expect to spend time working in the sub-assembly department first of all. The next step is promotion to the Test team and from there onto the Race Team. You will find jobs advertised in specialist motor sport magazines.
Salary package: A No 2 mechanic earns around £30,000 – the No 1 mechanic in charge or each car would get slightly more than that. A Chief Mechanic can earn up to £80,000 although Eddie isn’t quite as generous as that! Team Manager’s salaries vary enormously depending on the size of the team they are with and the precise job spec. I’d say a starting figure is around £90,000 and it can go up as high as £350,000.
