At the cutting edge

While the drivers are the most high profile and recognisable faces in the elite sport of Formula 1, they are just the tip of what is a veritable army of people required to make the whole show run. Each of the now 11 Formula 1 teams requires enormous logistical support both at the track for each race and in their respective home bases working across myriad areas. From massive research and development projects that include design, engineering, aerodynamics and materials, to power units that currently involve both electric and combustion drive, the work involved in fielding a two car entry to the world’s premiere motorsport category is incredible – and that’s before you even get to the track. Race engineers, teams of mechanics and pit crew along with media and public relations teams make for a sport with a staggering number of ‘moving parts’.

And yet, despite the many and varied roles within the sport, competition to work in the rarified field of Formula 1 is as fierce as the competition on the track. It is into this world that Emily Weeks has been drawn since taking part in the F1 in Schools Competition while in high school. This was something of a defining moment for the former Yass High School student who was attracted to the competition because of her interest in science and technology and from there things ‘just clicked’ and a genuine interest in motorsport and Formula 1 in particular was born.

"In year 8 my technology teacher told the school about this competition [F1 in Schools] and my friend Lauren and I immediately knew that it would be fun and also that we could win,” remembers Emily of what would become a pivotal decision.

“We recruited some more friends and basically that’s what we did for most lunchtimes for years.”

Success came straight away, designing a lightweight car in their first year that met all of the stringent rules of the competition and receiving the Innovation, Fastest Lap, Knockout Champions and Grand Prix Race Awards as well as winning the Grand Prix for their class. The next year they stepped up a class and set about manufacturing their own wheels to help reduce drag while also sharpening up their marketing and business approach. This resulted in the team winning a Government Grant that allowed the school to buy a CNC machine which in turn allowed them to  machine their cars at school  and improved their testing ability.

“This was an amazing experience and I had the best time,” says Emily fondly.

“It really ignited my love of motorsports and engineering in general,” she says, although it wouldn’t be until the end of Year 11 that she finally decided on a potential career direction and what she should study at university.

Ultimately, pursuing engineering was the obvious route to take given her passion for maths and science and the outstanding results she had achieved throughout her school life – finishing Dux of her school and winning numerous awards including the Ampol All Rounder Award. This in turn led to her exposure to the Country Education Foundation which helped provide assistance for Emily to further her studies in Sydney, far from her family and support groups in Yass. Her involvement with CEF ultimately led to Emily receiving an Audi Foundation scholarship which helps her balance study and living in Sydney where she is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Engineering (honours) Mechanical and Mechatronic at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Emily’s work on the F1 in Schools competition also played a part, enabling her to join the UTS Motorsport Team on arriving at university – a position not usually open to first year students. This has since led to expanding her motorsport knowledge base and opened her up to more competition success, the team passing all scruitineering and driving events at last year’s FSAE-A competition in Melbourne.

“I am finding it really interesting [UTS Motorsport team], although you can really get lost in how much there is to do and it can be hard to balance the team with full-time study and a job,” she says.

Her main focus of course is the degree, which essentially marries the mechanical, electrical and robotics disciplines, these further studies open up a whole new world of possibilities for Emily.

“I think this qualification can take me anywhere,” she says, of the degree that while highly specialised, will not see her pigeonholed on graduation.

“This is the pro of not specialising, I have more options once I graduate but it also sets me up to not know enough in any particular field. I am doing the double major because I think robotics will soon be apart of every field but I also want to have the mechanical qualification as it can be translated into so many subcategories of engineering.”

Emily has also become involved with Girls on Track, an organisation originally started by Susie Wolff that now operates under the FIA to help inspire and assist young women looking to forge careers in motorsport. Affording applicants access to people and experiences within motorsport, the program opens up possibilities to young women between 18 and 22 and allows them to build experience and contacts within the motorsport industry.

“I learnt a lot about networking and then met some really interesting people,” says Emily. "I think the best part of the program was the industry experience. I was able to develop my technical skills as well as learn about alternate methods into the industry instead of getting a job straight out of Uni.”

But while Weeks draws inspiration from those she has met through Girls on Track as well as some of the high profile women in the sport, she is determined to forge her own path.

”Hannah Schmitz (Oracle RedBull Race Strategist) and Laura Mueller (Haas Race Engineer) are so cool and really inspiring. Kate Harrington (BRT Team Manager) is also an inspiration with how good she is at her job and how she works to support women in motorsports,” says Weeks.   

An industry placement as part of her degree requirements has also provided invaluable practical experience and allowed Emily to see the theoretical side of engineering put to use in real world applications.

"This internship has been really interesting and I am learning so many practical skills and more about what engineers do for real, post university,” she says.

For now though, the focus is very much on finishing her studies before moving to the next phase – whatever that may be and wherever that takes her.

“Honestly I am probably focussing a little bit too short term but my major goal at the moment is finishing Uni,” she says. “I have a lot of things I would really love to do but I am not fixated on one.”

“I have been obsessed with this Oscar Wilde quote since I was little,” says Weeks of her hesitation at locking in too rigidly to a career path at this point.

‘If you want to be a grocer, or a general, or a politician, or a judge, you will invariably become it. That is your punishment’.

“I was determined to never fixate on a dream so much that I got stuck with it. I have always been interested in keeping doors open, that explains the double major. Although I am kind of sad that I don’t get to do some of the really cool electives that are offered, but I am enjoying having a broad skillset, I can always specialise later.

The lure of motorsport, particularly Formula 1 though, is undeniable. Emily had the opportunity to get up close with the Audi Revolut Formula 1 Team at the opening round of the season in Melbourne this year providing rare insights to the workings of a Formula 1 team.

“I was (am still) a Ferrari fan but I also follow Audi in many competitions, now including F1. I was very excited about them entering the sport and have been following them closely,”

But should Emily’s career path take her into the world of Formula 1, her ideal team would be the one most invested in innovation rather than the most successful or the one with the richest pedigree.

“Obviously in the real world I do not just get to pick and have it come true. But if I got to choose any team, I would pick the team that is being the most innovative at the time as that is where I would learn the most, or maybe a smaller team as there are fewer roles and so I would benefit from more responsibilities.”

Should Formula 1 not be fortunate enough to win Emily over though, her other interests are no less challenging or competitive.

“Apart from Motorsport and cars, I have interests in 3D printing, manufacturing and space,” Emily says. “There are some really interesting mechatronics projects on satellites and a whole manner of space related work that I am very intrigued about.”

Regardless of which direction she decides to go, Emily Weeks’ career promises to be anything but ordinary, but rather she is destined to spend her professional life at the very cutting edge.