Tsunoda: I’ve always treated mechanics with respect

A Formula 1 team is made up of people with a wide range of professions and who perform different tasks. In conversations about the hierarchy of positions in the team, it is often compared to a pyramid, where the riders are at the very top, but everything below that is also important in its own way and there is not a single element that can be left out with.

The mechanics in the team may not do the most qualified, but absolutely necessary work, where accuracy and speed are important, which is achieved through long training, and there is also a specialization within this category.

Here are the answers from Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda when asked what kind of work they would most like to do if they weren’t racers, but mechanics from the AlphaTauri team.

Pierre Gasly: ​​“If I were a mechanic… (pause) Maybe I’d rather choose the tanker profession. After all, then I had the opportunity to watch the entire race, from start to finish, sitting on a chair! (laughs) It’s probably the best work the team does on race weekend days.

Yuki Tsunoda: “Maybe I would be the mechanic who tightens the driver’s seat belts. Because I suppose if you don’t like this rider, or if he shows bad results, you can tighten the belts with all your might. (laughs) And the mechanics also have the opportunity to see the riders up close, to see the expression on their faces. And the man who tightens his belt has the best job in this regard. But I wouldn’t want to change the wheels, that’s too dangerous.

But I’ve always had a lot of respect for mechanics. And it always impresses me how the mechanics change the wheels during the race in two or three seconds, it’s just incredible!