15 replies to this topic

[SparkPlug86]

I saw this on Autosport today. It sometimes gets talked about by Brundle on Sky, but this article really struck home how hard it must be for the personnel in F1 teams, from mechanics, to cleaning staff... the people that make the big machine work. I have a friend in F2 who often says how much he hates the travelling, it's fun whilst you are young but it gets tiring really quickly and spending time away from his new wife, is very hard on them both. He misses out on all sorts of stuff, BBQ's, group holidays etc - doesn't always sound like much, but when you see all your mates having a great time at home together, it must feel really lonely.

 

So yeah, I think some appreciation for what all of the team personnel do - and some action from F1, the FIA and most importantly, the teams themselves. This should have been considered in the cost cap and I think some sort of 'team rotation' is a very good idea. I think, pay wise, some of these mechanics are on a fairly decent salary, but I get that they 'live' within their means, so it should be looked at aswell. Maybe a bonus structure for them outside of the cost cap?

 

https://www.autospor...xpands/6960600/

 

Article above - worth a read. Thoughts?  

[Astandahl]

23 races are insane. Triple headers are insane.

 

Go back to 18 races with no triple headers. But F1 wants more money so it's a pipe dream.

[PlatenGlass]

23 races are insane. Triple headers are insane.

Go back to 18 races with no triple headers. But F1 wants more money so it's a pipe dream.

I preferred 16.

[Sterzo]

There is legislation in Britain, the Working Time Directive, setting out the requirement that staff shall not be required to work in excess of 48 hours per week for 17 weeks continuously. It's UK law, but I think it's derived from an EU directive. There's a big hole in the regulation, which is that empoyers can "ask" employees to withdraw from the restriction, and employees can "voluntarily" do so. You can sort of guess where that leads.

 

I'd imagine team bosses and mechanics alike would laugh at the idea of sticking to a 48 hour week. The very concept is alien to motor racing.

 

My question would be: why could you NOT run a sport with a limit on working hours? There is absolutely nothing God-given or inevitable about the amount of money spent, or the number of hours input. Nor can I see how the racing is better, the skill level higher, or the achievement greater as a result of working crazy hours.

[BRG]

The parc ferme rule, between qualifying and the race, was a big step.  Before the teams would completely dismantle and rebuild the cars till late into the night, for no good reason that I could ever see.   Now they don't and the team workers get a night's sleep.  And I have always reckoned that the huge step in reliability was partly due to this change.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Yet they used to, race after race.

[Afterburner]

You will always find me near the front of the crowd saying how important the teams are. For the longest time US perception of F1 also had an emphasis on the importance of the teams thanks to ex-Benetton mechanic Steve Matchett being one of our lead commentators, so a mechanic’s perspective on the sport was always front and center on most broadcasts. I think that this adds a needed level of depth. Racing, and F1 in particular, is one of the few sports in the world where engineering plays just as much if not more a role as athletics. A spotlight on the all the “guys back at the factory” that allow our alleged “heroes” to be so successful would be appreciated.

[king_crud]

I know someone who works for Sky and does their F1 production. They rotate their staff, and he's doing 12 races i think. If the season was still 16 races he'd probably do them all but Sky recognise that their staff can't do all races beyond that. I'm sure F1 teams can rotate a lot of their roles. It used to be more senior staff moved to the test team, but that's not an option anymore

Edited by king_crud, 23 December 2021 - 21:07.

[jonpollak]

My job requires similar extended working hours the team members have to endure. As I have been doing my job for over 40 years I am completely used to it and it doesn’t really bother me.

However as I age I find it is physically more difficult so I prepare by getting in shape earlier scheduling physio and massage breaks on days off.

Maybe people in this day and age can’t understand it but most HR operatives on race teams seek out people that are at ease with lengthy working hours.

Jp

[mclarensmps]

European races should never be back to back. There should always be a 2 or 3 week break between them. This will help immensely. 
 

[cpbell]

My job requires similar extended working hours the team members have to endure. As I have been doing my job for over 40 years I am completely used to it and it doesn’t really bother me.

However as I age I find it is physically more difficult so I prepare by getting in shape earlier scheduling physio and massage breaks on days off.

Maybe people in this day and age can’t understand it but most HR operatives on race teams seek out people that are at ease with lengthy working hours.

Jp

I'm sure they do, but there is a range of hours worked per week beyond which it becomes simply unhealthy, both mentally AND physically, irrespective of whether you are "at ease" with it or not.  I found this subject fascinating the other year and read several articles online about workers in the financial sector who have to out-compete their colleagues to attract the attention of their bosses.  Beyond about 80 hours, bad things start happening, and some, who have routinely worked 100+ hour weeks end up either leaving or dying prematurely.  It's a huge problem, and I really don't think F1 needs the negative press attention that mechanics dying at an early age for one reason or another would cause.

Edited by cpbell, 24 December 2021 - 12:18.

[jpm2019]

It will work out fine.

 

F1 teams want the best people
If the best people leave because of this, they will find solutions, to prevent them from losing their competative edge 

 

No need to panic. 

[jonpollak]

Yeah cp some work environments are more cut throat than others.


Mine is hardly that so much easier to grab an hour during the day to switch off or have an nap. People in my line of work understand this.On the racing side I remember a certain mechanic at Williams who would set up a little camp bed out of road case tops in a little removed area of the paddock and you’d put you credential on the outside latch to let your teammates know you were getting what they called a ‘rechargeable moment’ !!!!

You can read all you want about it but individual experience is king.
Jp

[oli4]

Bit strange this poll: options that they get paid enough or not enough. We don't know how much they get paid.

[jjcale]

Since Ive been here, Ive always opted out of whatever restriction on working time exists - and I have always asked others to opt out as well .... UK is a long hours, go, go, go sort of country and its no surprise that most of the F1 teams are based here and that the culture of F1 is mostly based on the culture here in the high stress jobs.... I am pretty sure most of these people in the teams are Brits or based here. 

 

When you burn out, you move on ... that's how it goes here. Those who can keep it up and/or enjoy doing so, keep going ... but nobody is forcing anyone to do the job. 

 

Cant really see a big problem....

 

If FOM/Liberty are asking too much that will soon become clear ... but until it becomes clear, I would assume that the people will be able to handle it.... I wouldnt tend to assume the other way - that its too much.... some people are capable of dealing with a lot of work and pressure, I'd prefer to see them have a go before declaring its an impossible task.

 

But ... FWIW ... I have not voted in the poll as I dont know this industry very well and whilst I have an opinion its not a strong one ... and I dont think its worth much given my ignorance of the specifics of this industry.

 

It will be interesting to hear from those who are actually involved .... even if we are conscious that they may well have an axe to grind.  

Edited by jjcale, 24 December 2021 - 16:03.

[MKSixer]

My job requires similar extended working hours the team members have to endure. As I have been doing my job for over 40 years I am completely used to it and it doesn’t really bother me.

However as I age I find it is physically more difficult so I prepare by getting in shape earlier scheduling physio and massage breaks on days off.

Maybe people in this day and age can’t understand it but most HR operatives on race teams seek out people that are at ease with lengthy working hours.

Jp

As a former road warrior until Covid hit, I've always been a proponent of the edict, "If you take the queen's coin, you do her bidding".  That said, road life is hard and requires a special person.  One of my fav things to do was to bring HQ colleagues on trips so they would have an accurate impression of what field-based life was like.  

I believe it's much the same for F1 personnel.  The hardest thing is time away from family and getting lazy with your personal fitness combined with the temptation to eat poorly.  This life isn't for the faint of heart and the physical and mental tolls are very real.

 

I love the longer seasons but some accommodations should be made for personnel.

[PitViperRacing]

If you don't like it, don't do it.

As has been mentioned before, if the conditions are bad enough that good talent is leaving; it'll reach a balance point.