It’s a big day here at jobinf1.com. Or at least for me personally.
As I explained in my last post, I’ve been writing a book for over a year, aiming to get down in words all of my best advice on getting a job in Formula 1. I was hoping it would just take me a few months at most but it has taken much, much longer than I anticipated.
“How To Get A Job In Grand Prix Racing” was published this morning on Amazon as a Kindle e-book and is the final result of all of those months of hard work. As the saying goes, there is a book in everybody and this is probably mine so quite a big day for me on a personal level at least.
For those of you familiar with the blog here at jobinf1.com, the style is very similar but the big difference between blog and book is that the book as the structure and logical order that the blog lacks. I hope that you will be able to pick up the book and follow it from beginning to end and learn stage by stage how I think you can best go about getting a job in F1.
The book covers everything from a day in the life of Formula One to the people in it and the jobs that they do. I’ve used the idea of a fictional team called Ladbrooke F1 to describe what goes on within the day to day business and how that team goes about finding its staff and recruiting its new people. The book also stretches well beyond Formula 1 and tries to show where vital opportunities to get a foot in the door of the motorsport industry can be found if only you know where to look.
I’ve tried to use my own background as an example, coming from a family with no history or connection to motorsport, describing some of the mistakes I made but also some of the vital advice and lessons that I have picked up along the way. There are sections on school, university, work placements, apprenticeships and gaining vital experience outside of the classroom that will be recognised and respected by Formula 1 recruiters. I have also included links to other vital resources, companies and people to follow who can be of use as you begin your search.
Amazon has a great feature which allows you a peak inside with the contents page and several of the opening chapters being readable directly on their website. Feel free to go and take a look and let me know what you think. You don’t need a Kindle device to read it either as Kindle reader apps are available for free for any PC, tablet, Apple or Android device One of the great things about the e-book format is that it can be updated and improved over time very easily.
Getting a job in Formula 1 is never easy and I am not going to pretend that you can pick up this book and be on a plane to Monaco the very next weekend. If only life were that simple. What I do hope however is that I’ve been able to take away some of the mystery, explain how the industry works and bring the possibility of Formula 1 a lot closer than it’s been before. This is my best effort, my knowledge of the industry laid bare and my best advice to you in one place. I can’t give you a job in Formula 1 but I can give you a good head start and I hope this book can be you startline for a successful career in Grand Prix racing.
Oh, and one more thing if I may. If you do decide to get the book and especially if you enjoy it and feel it has helped you in your journey to Formula 1 I would love to hear back from you. It’s still very difficult for independent authors such as myself to be discovered and so a good review on Amazon is worth its weight in gold to let others find the book and to spread the word. It would mean a great deal to me if you could leave a few words there if you have enjoyed reading the book. Thank you and best of luck for your future.