TLDR;
Matt Dean, Chief Mechanic at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team, answers internet questions about F1 mechanics. He discusses favorite tools like the Bit Driver and F1 wheel gun, shares anecdotes about lost tools, and explains the importance of both the car and the driver. He also covers how to become an F1 mechanic, the emotional impact of crashes, the extreme heat in F1 cockpits, and the reasons behind car design similarities. Additionally, he touches on quick repair strategies, tool usage, rules against touching the car, what happens to broken parts, team specialization, pit stop decision-making, the role of wings, cost considerations for repairs, garage cleanliness, F1 innovations in everyday cars, and debunks common F1 myths.
- Favorite tools and their specific uses in F1.
- The collaborative effort required between the car, driver, and team for success.
- The intensive training and experience needed to become an F1 mechanic.
- The impact of cost caps on repair and part management.
- Debunking common myths about F1 mechanics and pit stops.
F1 Mechanic Support [0:00]
Matt Dean introduces himself as the Chief Mechanic at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team and states that he will be answering questions from the internet about F1 mechanics.
Favorite/Underrated Tools [0:16]
Matt discusses favorite and underrated tools used by F1 mechanics. He highlights the Bit Driver, a low-profile tool for accessing confined spaces under the car's bodywork and winglets. He also showcases the F1 wheel gun, used to quickly loosen and tighten the single wheel nut on F1 cars, a process that happens in under 2.2 seconds. Additionally, he mentions the use of a leaf blower to cool down the engine and brakes when the car enters the pit box, emphasizing its effectiveness due to its design in collaboration with IronHell to maximize airflow.
Whoops [1:45]
Matt shares anecdotes about losing tools, including a story about accidentally leaving a rubber hammer inside the fuel system after using it to expand the fuel bag within the car's cockpit. He also mentions instances where tools have fallen into the engine and gearbox, requiring extensive disassembly to retrieve them, often resulting in the responsible mechanic buying drinks for the team.
More important in F1: The Car or The Driver? [2:46]
Matt addresses the debate of whether the car or the driver is more important in Formula One, acknowledging that mechanics favor the car while drivers favor themselves. He emphasizes that success requires teamwork, involving the car, engineers, factory support, engine manufacturers, and the driver, all working together to optimize performance and gain crucial fractions of a second on the track.
Becoming an F1 Mechanic [3:13]
Matt provides advice on how to become a Formula 1 mechanic, stressing the importance of hands-on experience with tools like spanners and ratchets, gained through repairing bicycles, motorbikes, or building go-karts. He suggests attending specialized colleges, such as those at Silverstone, and gaining experience in lower formulas like Formula 4, Formula 3, and Formula 2. He also advises aspiring mechanics to network, make themselves known to teams, and be prepared for the pressures of working in a high-profile environment, including travel and teamwork.
Crashes [4:38]
Matt discusses the emotional impact of crashes on F1 mechanics, noting that while he tries to remain calm, some younger mechanics can get upset. He explains that crashes result in a significant amount of work to repair the car, often within short timeframes between practice sessions and qualifying, requiring the team to work together to get the car back on track.
ELI5: Why F1 Cockpits are so hot [5:17]
Matt explains why F1 cockpits are so hot, even with wind coming at high speeds. He notes that drivers are in confined spaces with a hot engine behind them, raging hot brakes in front, and electrical boxes surrounding them, leading to temperatures as high as 48-50 degrees Celsius. He mentions the use of cool suits and small ducts to blow cool air over the drivers to mitigate the heat.
Car designs [6:09]
Matt clarifies why all F1 cars aren't the same to test driver speed, explaining that Formula One involves different teams designing their own cars, interpreting rules differently, and using different engine manufacturers, making it a competition of who can design the best car.
Quick repairs after a wreck [6:32]
Matt explains how F1 teams manage to repair cars quickly after crashes, often in less than a week, with the shortest turnaround being three hours between P3 and qualifying. He details that during urgent repairs, mechanics from the other car are reassigned to assist, and recalls a time in Monaco where nearly the entire team focused on one car to get it ready for qualifying.
Tools F1 Mechanics use [7:26]
Matt discusses the hand tool brands and specific tools F1 mechanics use, noting that many teams use a variety of tools, including standard spanners, torque wrenches, and ratchets. He highlights the partnership with IronHell, mentioning tools like fast-setting glue for quick repairs and fans to cool the chassis and brakes.
Hands off! [8:07]
Matt explains the "no touching the car" rules, which apply to Parc Fermé and curfew times. Curfew times mandate that team members must leave the circuit for a certain period to ensure they get adequate rest. In Parc Fermé, after qualifying, teams can't make setup changes but can perform visual checks and change fluids. Additionally, he describes the no-touching rule during pit stop penalties, where mechanics must wait before servicing the car to avoid gaining an unfair advantage.
What happens to broken F1 car parts? [9:49]
Matt details what happens to broken F1 car parts, explaining that since the introduction of the cost cap, teams try to repurpose as many parts as possible. If parts cannot be reused, they are often made into trophies or memorabilia. He emphasizes that all expenses, including broken car parts, count against the cost cap, making it essential to manage and recycle parts effectively.
The look of an F1 car [10:25]
Matt explains why F1 race cars look similar, attributing it to teams copying each other and adhering to tight regulations. He notes that while different teams may interpret rules differently, cars tend to evolve to look alike, especially when regulations remain consistent over several years.
Specialization [10:49]
Matt confirms that F1 teams have specialized groups of mechanics focusing on specific aspects of the car, such as the front end, rear end, hydraulic systems, and gearbox systems, all guided by engineers. He mentions that each car has a team of 15 mechanics working on it.
Who decides a driver should make a pit stop? [11:09]
Matt clarifies that pit stop decisions are not made by the mechanics but by strategists at the factory and track. The track strategist makes the final call, communicating with the sporting director, who then instructs the mechanics. He explains that teams are mandated to make one pit stop to fit a different tire compound and describes the roles of the 24 people involved in a pit stop, aiming for a consistent 2.2-second stop.
Wings [12:26]
Matt discusses the wings on F1 cars, including the front wing, rear wing, and smaller winglets on the brake ducts, noting that they can be problematic. He mentions that a dedicated department at the factory focuses solely on front and rear wings, which are crucial for producing downforce and directing airflow around the car to balance downforce and slipstream.
Do repair costs count towards the cost cap in F1? [13:07]
Matt confirms that repair costs do count towards the cost cap, meaning that frequent crashes or on-track incidents can significantly impact a team's budget, as repairing and renewing bodywork and other components can be expensive.
Were F1 garages always this clean? [13:30]
Matt addresses the cleanliness of F1 garages, contrasting modern standards with historical images of mechanics smoking and fueling cars unsafely. He explains that F1 garages and headquarters are now meticulously organized to ensure everything is in its place, allowing mechanics to quickly access tools, especially during practice sessions. He notes that the only time garages become chaotic is after accidents, when debris and damaged parts are brought back for urgent repairs.
I could use that… [15:02]
Matt discusses how F1 innovations are being incorporated into average cars, citing software, sensors, energy recovery systems, and materials like carbon fiber as examples of technologies that have made their way from F1 to standard road cars.
Biggest F1 Myth [15:33]
Matt debunks several myths about Formula 1, including the idea that the front jack man is highly paid for only working three seconds on a Sunday, emphasizing that mechanics work from Tuesday to Sunday. He also clarifies that there aren't separate pit stop crews for each driver; instead, both sets of mechanics work together on each car during the race to maximize performance.
