F1 in Schools: The Main Straight F1 in Schools

Ever wondered how F1 teams, composed of hundreds of people, achieve peak performance both on and off the track? How do they hit every milestone, stay within the cost caps, and avoid those game-changing milliseconds that can make or break a race? The answer is Project Management – the secret engine driving success in the fast-paced world of motorsport. In this episode, Tom Deacon dives deep into Project Management with Mitchell Fong, Board Chair of the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation (PMIEF). Discover how F1 in Schools leverages PMIEF's mission to enable youth to realize their potential and transform lives through project management.
Learn how the principles of project management are not just essential in racing but also invaluable life skills. Mitchell shares insights on how competitors can craft a winning strategy for the Aramco F1 in Schools World Finals, and what it truly takes to manage a successful project from start to finish. Tune in to understand the mechanics behind high-octane performance and get inspired by how mastering project management can lead to incredible achievements in future careers!

In an incredibly exciting episode of The Main Straight, host Tom Deacon speaks with Sven Smeets, Sporting Director at one of the world’s leading F1 teams, Williams Racing.

With an illustrious career history that spans three decades, Sven has experience across almost every aspect of the sport. Now responsible for the sporting governance and representation of the Williams Racing team, he is instrumental in supporting the drivers, as well as ensuring that the optimal culture, resources, and environment are in place to achieve success.

In this illuminating discussion, Sven shares his invaluable advice on how F1 in Schools students can achieve their dream roles within the sport, the lessons he has learnt throughout his career, and provides an unmissable behind-the-scenes insight into his role within the iconic Williams Racing.

You may not have heard of computational fluid dynamics, CFD for short, or, if you’re currently competing in F1 in Schools, you might be a whiz in the field already, but whatever your skill level, this episode of The Main Straight is sure to be an interesting listen.

Host Tom Deacon chats to the team at Ansys, the official CFD partner of F1 in Schools, to learn about the software that has transformed F1 teams’ ability to test a car's performance before it gets anywhere a racetrack.

Enabling the simulation of variable factors such as air pressure, temperature, and turbulence, and for minute bodywork and component details to be examined and analysed for impact, F1 engineers are able to design with more precision than ever before - and it definitely shows, as Susan and Vishal of Ansys explain.

Being Chief Engineer for one of the best teams in F1 history sounds like a dream role for thousands of F1 in Schools students, and in this unmissable episode of The Main Straight, Tom Deacon speaks with the one and only Paul Monaghan - who you may also know as ‘Pedals’ - to find out just what it takes to achieve such phenomenal success.

Covering everything from his career journey to the work involved in creating a car and team that delivers 21 wins in a single season, and providing invaluable insights into the steps aspiring engineers can take to follow in his path, this episode is a must-listen.

Hot on the heels of the release of the brand-new technical regulations for the Aramco F1 in Schools 2024 World Finals, host Tom Deacon catches up with with the fantastic Gary Anderson, Chair of Judges at F1 in Schools and former Jordan and Jaguar F1 Technical Director, and the team at Off the Track to discuss what’s new, what’s stayed the same, and what’s going to pose a challenge for competitors. So, if you’re set on making it to the global stage of F1 in Schools, this episode is not be missed - packed with insight, filled with information, and even including a few top tips, it’s definitely one for the must-listen list.

Each F1 in Schools car begins life as an idea in a students’ mind. The hard part? Bringing it into reality - taking that concept and converting it into a design that can be made, and raced.

And that’s where computer aided design (CAD) comes into play.

As the official CAD partner of F1 in Schools, Autodesk powers the designs of our future engineers and pioneers, with thousands of F1 in Schools students choosing Fusion 360 to create their cars every year. And in this special episode, host Tom Deacon catches up with Mike Westlake, Senior Manager GTM Strategy, and Donny Wong, Manufacturing Specialist (and F1 in Schools alum), to find out why.

Fresh from overseeing the F1 in Schools activation at Autodesk University in Las Vegas, Mike and Donny discuss everything from the benefits of learning CAD at a young age, the role it plays in the competition, and the incredible things it makes possible in the world - whether that’s greener buildings, smarter products, or record-breaking cars.