Behind the Scenes of Formula One Design with Elizabeth Apthorp, Composite Design Engineer at Alpine F1.

The Future Car: A Siemens Podcast

We know that race cars are built to go fast. Materials are carefully selected and the aerodynamics of movement are constant considerations. Seeing these mechanical marvels traveling at furious speeds around the track, it makes you wonder...who builds these things?

Formula 1 design requires constant teamwork and never-ceasing innovation. From concept to race day, there are teams working together in order to get these cars over the finish line. There are professional aerodynamicists and engineers who work behind the scenes every day in order to conceptualize, build, re-conceptualize, and repeat.

In this segment of our Women Driving the Future series, Ed Bernardon interviews Elizabeth Apthorp, Composite Design Engineer at Alpine F1 Team in Enstone, England. In part one of a two-episode series, she reveals what goes on behind the scenes of F1 design, the challenges of building sturdy, yet race-worthy, machines, and she discloses a few surprising engineering secrets.

Some Questions I Ask:

• How did your experiences lead you to this work? (3:16)
• What exactly is a Formula One car and how is it different than a NASCAR or IndyCar? (9:58)
• How many people work at Alpine F1 Team? (11:49)
• What’s something you’ve designed that you’re really proud of? (20:54)
• What surprised you the most about the difficulty in taking a piece of composite material and trying to shape it into what you needed? (28:43)

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

• What inspired her interest in F1 (2:32)
• Her engineering mentor in the industry (6:02)
• The cost of building a Formula One car (13:10)
• Her favorite part of the job (15:34)
• The unique properties of carbon fiber (24:25)
• A surprising fact about F1 parts (26:25)

Connect with Elizabeth Apthorp:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Connect with Ed Bernardon:

• LinkedIn
• Future Car: Driving a Lifestyle Revolution
• Motorsports is speeding the way to safer urban mobility
• Siemens Digital Industries Software

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