Quote:
Originally Posted by Quickstep192
So, let me get this straight...
Each team can build their engine with no restrictions on HP?
Likewise, they can also build a unique aero kit, suspension etc?
Oh by the way, did I also notice that the Aston Martin entry has a Honda engine?
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I'm a design engineer at Mercedes F1. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to say anything helpful. But Captain already said everything better than I could, and I agree with everything that's been said.
F1 teams must be a constructor, with their own chassis, aerodynamic parts and most other bits on the car. Engine manufacturers tend to run their own "works" teams, or customer teams can buy engines. In the old days, customer teams existed where they would simply buy the whole car and run it. Nowadays, teams are only allowed to buy in certain parts, yet they have been pushing the limits on this. Haas started the current trend, Toro Rosso/Alphatauri also has a similar history with their sister team Red Bull, and Racing Point's 2020 car got a lot of attention (do read about it).
F1 is an engineering championship as much as a driving one, which is what got me hooked in the first place. In contrast, F2, one tier below F1, runs spec cars and the young F1 hopefuls put one a great driving show. As a personal comment, I just want to quote the Captain again: "Mercedes certainly doesn't have the best person in every role but they make the best of more peoples strengths than any other team." I know what Jeff is trying to say about rock star engineers. But I think he also knows that there are many other pieces of the puzzle for success. That's why famous team principals/technical directors don't always win everything (Paddy Lowe?).
For the record, Mercedes hasn't been the team with the biggest budget in the last few years, so money doesn't automatically mean success. I have worked in a 200-person racing team before, and I can hardly believe that F1 teams like Marussia/Manor managed to design, build, upgrade, and show up to every race with 2 cars with about the same size workforce. Those who were there still speak highly of their time, and this is a team that scored a total of three points in its entire history. It just goes to show, it would be really unfair to say anyone in F1 is any less capable than anyone else.
Mercedes F1 youtube channel has a lot of good content like race debriefs and technical pieces that might help you get more into F1.