MY UNTOLD STORY: Five inspirational people describe their journeys to working in F1 – and why there are opportunities for all in the sport

There are countless people working both in front and behind of the scenes in Formula 1, all united by a passion to deliver the sport to the fans. Each individual also brings with them their own story of how they got to where they are today.

In the latest instalment of the ‘My Untold Story’ series, we sit down with five inspiring people to discuss their roles within F1 and their unique journeys to this point. They also talk about the importance of having a diverse workforce and the opportunities available for all within the sport.

MY UNTOLD STORY: Inspirational people share their journeys to working in F1 – and the importance of diversity

Emilie Desjardins – Sustainability Lead at Alpine

Emilie discusses what her position at Alpine involves and why it felt like the perfect job for her. She also explains how she felt like part of the team from an early stage after making the move to Oxfordshire from Canada.

As well as that, Emilie describes how volunteering at the Canadian Grand Prix sparked her passion for the sport before her studies led her to a career in sustainability. Lastly, she reflects on Alpine’s Rac(H)er programme and why it is such an interesting time in motorsport for women.

Jemma Murphy – Engineering Graduate at McLaren

Jemma begins by explaining where her love for Formula 1 started and how watching her cousin race in Formula Ford inspired her to be a part of motorsport, having experienced the adrenaline from being at events.

She talks about the motivation to work in the industry that came from undertaking a placement year during her studies, while also reflecting on the challenges as a woman when faced with a lack of representation. Jemma highlights how diversity can help to boost performance by bringing in different perspectives.

MY UNTOLD STORY: Five inspiring people share their journeys to working in F1 – and how the sport can be a vehicle for change

Nadim Bart-Williams – F2/F3 Staff Writer at Formula 1

In his untold story, Nadim discusses his upbringing, his early love for sports and how writing letters to his parents while at boarding school helped to develop his creative side. Nadim also describes when he realised the impact that Lewis Hamilton was having on many people’s lives.

He goes on to detail how he changed career path following his studies, as well as reflecting on his journey to his current role, his most special moment in the sport so far and the advice he would give to his 10-year-old self.

MY UNTOLD STORY: Six inspirational people share their amazing journeys to working within Formula 1

Sri Datta Rapaka – Mathematical Modeller at Haas

Sri Datta opens up about his childhood in Hyderabad, and reflects on how his early interests in numbers and understanding how cars worked led him towards mathematics and engineering.

Sri Datta goes on to describe the challenges of moving to the United Kingdom during the Covid pandemic, and why his role at Haas appealed when he transitioned from working in academia to motorsport. Finally, he explains why F1 could have a good platform to tap into the pool of talent available in India.

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Jaco Schutte – ERP Technical Lead at Alpine

Jaco starts by talking about the responsibilities involved in his job, before discussing some of the challenges he faced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community while growing up. He goes on to describe what it was like to relocate to the United Kingdom with his husband whilst the Covid pandemic was still at its height.

In terms of his role at Alpine, Jaco explains how he fell into F1 and why he feels comfortable being himself at the company. He also reflects on what can be done to make the sport more inclusive and the importance of fostering talent from diverse backgrounds.

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