Australia’s love affair with Formula One can be pinpointed to 16 July 1955. It was then that Jack Brabham made his World Championship debut at Aintree in the British Grand Prix and his homeland has been caught up in the speed and glamour of motorsport’s top echelon ever since.
Thirteen Australians have raced in F1, but only Sir Jack and Alan Jones have won the drivers’ world championship (Brabham three times, Jones once). Lots more Australians have worked for F1 teams, however, from designers such as the legendary Ron Tauranac to race engineers like Chris Dyer and back room composite experts.
Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo led Australia’s on-track charge for Red Bull this year, but it’s been a busy year for Australians involved in other areas of F1. Here is the class of 2011:
THE DRIVERS
Mark Webber
Team: Red Bull Racing
Age: 35
Place of Birth: Queanbeyan, NSW
Seven-time winner and Red Bull Racing’s longest-serving driver in F1. Mark joined the team in 2007, since when he’s been instrumental in ensuring its growth and success. Mark has long been recognised as one of the fastest drivers in the world and he now has the experience (176 starts) to make him one of the most complete drivers on the grid. Struggled initially to adapt to Pirelli’s new tyres this year, but that win in Brazil will have done him the world of good.
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Daniel Ricciardo
Team: Hispania
Age: 22
Place of Birth: Perth
Daniel has risen up the motor racing ranks rapidly since winning the British Formula 3 title in 2009. His F1 chance came with Hispania at this year’s British Grand Prix in July, since when he’s destroyed the reputation of team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi, outqualifying him in four of the last five races. Australia’s long-term driving future in F1 is in safe hands.
GEPA Pictures
THE SPORTING DIRECTOR
Sam Michael
Team: McLaren
Age: 40
Place of Birth: Geraldton, Western Australia
For someone who celebrated his 40th birthday only recently, it’s hard to believe that Sam has been involved in F1 since 1993. He started out as a data analyst with Team Lotus, before moving to Jordan in ’94 and then Williams in ’01. Became technical director of Williams in ’04 and has just started his new job as sporting director of McLaren.
THE ELECTRONICS BUFF
Peter van Manen
Team: McLaren
Age: 53
Place of Birth: Adelaide
One of the few people who can claim to influence the performance of every car on the grid. As managing director of McLaren Electronic Systems, Peter is in charge of the McLaren-built Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that control every car on the grid.
THE AERODYNAMICIST
Brendan Gilhome
Team: Mercedes Grand Prix
Age: 38
Place of Birth: Devonport, Tasmania
A relatively new addition to Mercedes GP, where he’s been principal aerodynamicist since mid-2010. He spends his days in the windtunnel at Brackley, searching for more downforce and more performance.
THE RACE ENGINEER
Chris Dyer
Team: Ferrari
Age: 42
Place of birth: Bendigo, Victoria
A world title-winning race engineer with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari, Chris has worked in Ferrari’s GT division since January. But he’s had “many F1 job offers for 2012” and we’re waiting to hear where he’ll end up.
THE ENGINEERS
Craig Spencer
Team: Mercedes Grand Prix
Age: 43
Place of Birth: Albury, NSW
Has a varied F1 history, having started out at Simtek with fellow Aussie David Brabham at Simtek. He then moved through Jordan and Team Lotus to his current role as a damper technician for Mercedes GP.
David Nelson
Team: Mercedes Grand Prix
Age: 38
Place of Birth: Melbourne
Has worked for Mercedes GP in all of its different forms (BAR Honda, Honda F1 Team and Brawn GP). His first role was as a trackside vehicle dynamicist and he became factory-based during the Brawn GP’s title-wining year in 2009, taking up his current position as a senior vehicle dynamicist.
THE CHIEF MECHANIC
Pete Vale
Team: McLaren
Age: 45
Place of Birth: Melbourne
Was at Team Lotus with Sam Michael, until the team folded in 1994. Then moved to McLaren, where he’s climbed through the ranks to be chief mechanic. Nowadays, nothing happens in the pits without his prior blessing.
THE COMPOSITES EXPERT
Graeme Johnston
Team: Force India
Age: 37
Place of Birth: Sydney
Graduated from the University of Technology in Sydney and moved to the UK for further studies. He started out in F1 as a composite design engineer for Virgin Racing, before moving to Force India in 2010 to fulfil a similar role.
THE BRAND MAN
John Allert
Team: McLaren
Age: 42
Place of Birth: Adelaide
McLaren is John’s first job in F1. He joined the team in 2007 as Group Brand Director, having previously been CEO of marketing powerhouse Interbrand UK. He’s responsible for growing the McLaren brand across all spheres: racing, road – you name it.
THE LOGISTICS EXPERT
Mike Negline
Team: McLaren
Age: 53
Place of Birth: Yallourn (Victoria)
What flight am I on? Where are we staying in Monaco? Who’s booked the hire car? We need a new front wing at the track by tomorrow night: how are we going to get it there? Being the logistics manager for McLaren, Mike deals with these problems every day.
THE SIMULATOR EXPERT
Leanne Burgess
Team: Red Bull Racing
Age: 33
Place of Birth: Melbourne
Joined Red Bull Racing in 2006, having emigrated from Australia with her partner David Nelson (see ‘engineers’). She is the design engineer for Red Bull’s simulator, seeing it through from conception to production and running.
© Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
THE TRAINER
Stuart Smith
Team: HRT
Age: 27
Place of Birth: Brisbane
Graduated from Perth University with a Masters in sports science and went to Europe to work as a trainer for the Red Bull Junior Team. That’s when he met HRT’s Daniel Ricciardo and the pair have worked together ever since.
THE STEWARDS
Garry Connelly
Team: FIA
Has a long and distinguished career in motorsport. Garry has been an FIA steward and observer since 1989, and he’s now a member of the FIA World Motorsport Council. He’s been a regular member of the FIA stewards’ panel at F1 races, most recently at the Korean Grand Prix.
Alan Jones
Team: FIA
Age: 65
Place of Birth: Melbourne
The 1980 world champion made his first appearance as the FIA’s driver steward in Korea 2010 and he returned to the role at this year’s Japanese GP. As a driver Jones was recognised as a straight-talking guy – perfect fodder for an FIA driver steward!
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